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PUBLISHERS NOTICE. 



The illustrations in this book arc from original photographs taken by Messrs. 
//. B. Miller and Frank P. Jcwett, for this vol nine, and duly protected by copyright 
All rights are reserved by the Publishers. 



COPYRIGHT. 

MERCANTILE PUBLISHING CO. 

1890. 

For Contents see last pages. ] 






I 







The Oranges make up one of the most attractive 
and picturesque portions of Essex County. These are 
four in number — the City of Orange, and the town-hips 
of East, West, and South Orange. All of them are 
famed for their handsome drives, romantic scenery > 
well paved streets, elegant and imposing mansions, the homes of New 
York's merchant princes, leading bankers and eminent lawyers, slates- 
men and scientist?, as well as for the energy, public spirit and cul- 
ture of their inhabitants. The Oranges are pre-eminently cities of homes, and 
from the lay of the land, its excellent natural drainage, the elevated situation 
of the territory, and its freedom from malarial and all epidemic and infectious 
make the country eirbraced within the limits of the Oranges, one of the most de- 
sirable and attractive places of residence near the city of New York. The natural attractions of this 
section of country are enhanced by the ease and rapidity with which business men residing there can 
reach the cities of New York and Newark. The former is reached by two lines of railroad, the Dela- 
ware Lackawanna and We=terr, and the Orange branch of the Erie railroad. Both of these run fre- 
quent trains be.twe 2 n the Oranges and New York, thus enabling business men to travel to and fro be- 
tween their residences and offices very conveniently. 

Orio-nally the whole territory embraced within the boundaries of the Oranges was a part of Newark, 
then cllled "Our Towne on ye Passaick River." Indeed, the settlement of the Oranges was coincident with 
that of Newark The early settlers of "Our Towne on ye Passaick " located there in 1666, and soon after 
more than one of them began casting longing eyes towards the fertile valleys and verdure clad slopes 
leading up to Watchung, now the Orange Mountains, and it was not long before first one and then an- 
other of the pioneers of Newark went out towards the mountain and pre-empted land for a homestead. 



4 ORANGE AND ITS POINTS OF INTEREST. 

About 1678 a party of Newarkers formed the nucleus of the Mountain Society, which afterwards became 
the First Presbyterian Church, which for many years was the centre around which the town grew. This 
venerable chun h has always been prominently identified with the history of Orange. Not satisfied with 
grants of the land from the Lords Proprietors of New Jersey, who then owned, or claimed to own, the whole 
of the State, the high-minded and God-fearing men who founded Orange were not willing to disregard the 
claims of the Indians, and all the land that was acquired by them was duly purchased of the original own- 
ers of the soil. True it is that in these days the price paid does not seem very large, and it is probably equally 
true that it was not exorbitant even in those primitive times, for the whole tract now covered by Orange, 
. West and South Orange, was pure based of the Aborigines for a small sum of mom \ . a quantity of 
gun powder, a lot of lead, some old guns, brass buttons and "two anchors of Liquor." The whole of the 
tract where Llewellyn Park now is, and a considerable territory besides, was sold by the Indians for two 
guns, three coats and thirteen cans of rum. 

In 168 1 the settlers who constituted the " Mountain Society, " had so increased in number that survey- 
ors were appointed to lay out highways as far as the mountain. The surveyors followed the trails made 
by the eariy settlers in going to and fro between Newark and the mountain, and one of the first roads laid 
out by them, is described as "Ye road leading from ye towne to ye foote of ye mountain, or Wheeler's as 
ye pathe now runs, as straight as ye ground will allow." The road thus definitely described now forms 
Orange street, Newark, Main street, in East Orange and Orange, and Northfield avenue, West Orange. 
It is one of the most attractive and picturesque drives in Essex county. The Wheeler referred to here is 
Nathaniel Wheeler, and his house stood very near where the entrance of Hutton Park now is. 

It is impossible within the scope of a work of this kind, which deals chiefly with the Oranges of the 
present day, to give any thing like a history of the early years of this rapidly growing section, and, there- 
fore, only a very brief mention of some of the more important points will be made. In 1806 the popula- 
tion of the town of Newark had so increased, and the interests of the residents of Orange, which was 
separated from Newark by a large tract of unsettled country, had become so diverse from those of the 
former place, that it was deemed best to form a separate municipality; accordingly, the Legislature passed 
an act to incorporate a portion of the township of Newark into a separate township, to be called the 
Township of Orange. One of the metes and boundaries mentioned in the act is a spring called the 
boiling spiring. This spring is still in existence, and forms a portion of the source of the water supply of 
Last Orange. 

As early as 1744 the settlers of Orange became involved in disputes in regard to titles of lands which 
were prevalent in this section of New Jersey at this time, and contributions were raised for (laying the 
expenses of agents sent to Connecticut and to Horseneck (now Caldwell), for the purpose of obtaining 
papers and affidavits to confirm their rights. It was voted at a town meeting that whosoever should cut 
any wood or timber on any of the land called the parsonage land, shall forfeit (or every cart load ten 
shillings, and so in proportion for a larger or lesser quantity, for the use of the poor. 

Orange remained a township until 1S59, when the place had grown to such an extent, that the more 
progressive and enterprising of the inhabitants felt that a better and more efficient system of government 
than that offered by the township laws of the State was needed. The necessity for a change in the 
method of administering the affairs of the municipality was especially felt in the matter of public improve- 
ments, which could not be carried out so readily under the old system as ihey could if the town were in- 
corporated. On November 17, 1850, a meeting of the citizens of Orange was held in Willow Hall, pur- 
suant to a call of the Township Committee, to consider the propriety of applying to the Legislature for 
some change in the laws regulating the township government. Such subjects as the grading of streets, 
the establishment of poli< e and lire departments, the regulation ol the liquor traffic, and the division of 
the towns into wards were fully discussed, I)rs. William M . Babbit and William Pierson, Simeon Harrison, 
Napoleon Stetson, [saai I Everitt and Jesse Williams were appointed to act with the Township Com- 
mittee and prepare a plan of incorporation. Mils committee subsequent!) drifted an ict providing for 
the incorporation of the town of Orange. By this act the town was divided into three wards, which 
embraced all th im 1 omprised in the limits of Orange, East and West Orange. The act for 

the incorporation of the town of Orange was passed by the Legislature in January i860, and approved 



ORANGE AND ITS POINTS OF INTEREST. 



by the Governor January 31, i860. The first Mayor of Orange was Dr. William Pierson, Sr„ who served 
from i860 to 1863, being re-elected each year. There was a decided opposition to the incorporation on 
the part of many of the citizens, especially those residing in the limits of what are now East and West 
Orange. This feeling of opposition was still further engendered by troubles in relation to the public schools, 
which will be referred to in another place. In 1862 a portion of Orange was set off, together with a part 
of Caldwell and Livingston Townships, into a separate municipality, known as the Township of Fair- 
mount. In the following year another portion of the town of Orange was added to the Township of Fair- 
mount, and the name of the latter was changed to West Orange. In the year 1863 the Township of East 
Orange was also created out of another portion of the town of Orange. Notwithstanding the loss of these 
two important sections of territory, with their large population and great wealth. Orange has continued to 
steadily advance in every respect, and to-day is one of the best governed, most economically adminis- 
tered cities in New Jersey. On April 3, 1872, the corporate name of Orange was changed by the Legis- 
lature to the City of Orange. 

RAILROAD FACILITIES. 

Orange is reached from New York by two lines of railroads, the Delaware, Lackawanna and West- 
ern, and the Orange Branch of the New York and Greenwood Lake Railroad. The former road was 
originally the Morris and Essex Railroad, but has been absorbed by the Delaware, Lackawanna and 
Western. The other railroad is a branch of the Erie system. The Morris and Essex Railroad was for 
many years the only means of reaching either New York or Newark by rail, and to get there by other 
means than private conveyance the citizens were compelled to have recourse either to an old-fashioned 

stage line, or, later on, to horse cars. 
The Morris and Essex Railroad was 
the first to connect Orange with 
Newark and New York. This road 
was organized in 1835, and origin- 
ated in an attempt of several lead- 
ing citizens of Morristown to connect 
that place by railroad with Newark 
and New York. Meetings were held 
and committees were appointed to 
solicit aid and subscriptions from 
neighboring towns. In response to 
the efforts of the Morristown people 
a meeting was held at the South 
Ward Hotel, Newark, on Wednesday, 
January 14, with Stephen Dodd as 
chairman. Resolutions were adopted 
extending the cordial approbation of 
the meeting to the project of the 
Morristown Railroad, and Messrs. J. 
M. Meeker, Moses Bigelow and John 
P. Jackson were appointed a commit- 
tee to present the subject to the Leg- 
islature. The last named gentleman on this committee was the father of Mr. F. W. Jackson, the present 
General Superintendent of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Messrs. Stephen Dodd, L. A. Sykes and William 
B. Kinney were appointed a committee to confer with a similar committee from Morristown and further 
the interests of the new road. On the 26th of January, 1835, the Legislature passed a bill incorporating 
the Morris and Essex Railroad Companv. The company was authorized to lay out and construct a rail 
road or lateral roads from one or more suitable place or places in Morristown, to inters, t one 
or more suitable places in the railroad kaown as the New Jersey Railroad and Transporta 
tion Company, at Newark or Elizabethtown. On the completion of the road to Newark 
a connection was made with the New Jersey Railroad by a track laid through Broad street, New- 




D., L. & W. Depot at Orange. 



,, ORANGE AND ITS POINTS OF INTEREST. 

ark, to the Centre street depot in that city, over which horse cars were run. Early in 1855 a branch road 
was built from the New Jersey (now the Pennsylvania) Railroad, in Hast Newark, and across the Passaic 
to connect the Morris and Essex with the New Jersey Railroad, and for many years passengers from 
Orange and other places were carried over the Morris and Essex Railroad as far as East Newark, on the 
line of that company, and thence without changing cars over the New Jersey tracks to Jersey City. In 
1S60 the Hohoken Land and Improvement Company obtained a charter for a railroad connecting New- 
ark with Hoboken. This railroad was completed November 19, 1862, when the trains of the Morris and 
Railroad were run direct to Hoboken through the Bergen tunnel. In 186S the Morris and Essex 
Railroad was leased to the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company, who, several years 
subsequent to this, constructed a tunnel of their own through the Bergen hill, running diagonally acrossa 
portion of the old Bergen tunnel, which is now used by the Erie Railroad. The Delaware, Lackawanna 
ami Western Railroad runs thirty-seven trains daily each way between Orange and New York, Sundays 
1 xi ( pted. Of these three are express trains, that make no stop between the Oranges and Hoboken. 

In the year iXs;, when the effects of the financial panic which had visited the country that year were 
still severely felt, the directors of the Morris and Essex Railroad, with the mistaken idea that they could 
largely increase the revenue of their road, adopted a resolution to increase the fare between Orange and 
New York, and Orange and Newark fifty per cent, on commutation tickets and twenty-five 
per cent, on way fares, and also to reduce the number of trains about one-half. The 
directors of the Morris and Essex Railroad soon found that they had greatly mistaken 
the temper of the Orange people when they imagined that the citizens of that place 
would quietly submit to such treatment at their hands. Public meetings of citizens were held and 
the utmost indignation was expressed. A committee of leading citizens were appointed to wait upon the 
directors of the Morris and Essex Railroad. This committee was met by the railroad directors with a 
contemptuous refusal to recede from the position they had taken, and were told to go back to the people 
of Orange and inform them that the directors of the road understood their business ; that Orange travel 
was not worth having, and if the people did not submit they would bridge Orange over. This insolent 
answer to their just demands aroused the residents of Orange to the highest pitch of indignation. The 
people decided to be independent of the Morris and Essex Railroad, and to leave it severely alone. In 
less than two weeks an omnibus company was organized, with a capital of $5,575. Single fare between 
Orange an 1 Newark was ten cents, and the yearly commutation was $25. From its start the stage line 
was an immense success, and it was not long before the Morris and Essex Railroad Directors receded 
from thiir unt isition and reduced the fares to the old standard. This, however, had little effect 

upon the Orange public, so bitter was the feeling against the railroad, and the stage company continued 
to do a big business. During the first year it carried 80,000 passengers between Orange and Newark. 
The capital stock was increased to $io,coo, besides paying a dividend of ten per cent, to stockholders- 
The omnibus line was continued 'three years, when it was dissolved, its property cold and the money re- 
turned to the stockholders. Subsequent to this a horse railroad was built between Orange and Newark, 
which at first was a very small affair, but subsequently merged into the Orange and Newark Horse Car 
Railroad Company. 

The Orange branch of the New York and Greenwood Lake Railroad was built some eighteen or twenty 
years ago as a branch of the Montclair Midland Railroad system. It had its origin in the bad feeling 
that had always existed between a certain portion of the residents of the Oranges and the old Morris and 
Essex Railroad and its successor, the Delaware, Lackawanna ami Western. The Watchung Railroad had 
1 very precarious existence, and for awhile ceased running trains entirely. It was revived and absorbed 
by thi New York and Greenwood Lake Company, and is now operated by the Erie Railroad Company. 
It extends from St. Mark's Church, West Orange, to Forest Hill, Newark, where it joins the main line of 
the Greenwood Lake road and forms a short route to New York. This road was the first to run express 
trains to New York from Orange, ami has been the pioneer in many reforms in the train service. 

The Orange and Newark Horse Car Railroad Company was organized in 1859, when a charter was ob- 
tained from the Legislature. The project, however, slumbered for a year or two, owing to the opposition 
of one or two property owners in Market street, Newark, who sought to obtain an injunction restraining 



ORANGE AND ITS POINTS OF INTEREST. 7 

the company from laying tracks in that thoroughfare. The suit was finally decided in favor of the com 
pany in i860, but the excitement that preceded and followed the breaking out of the war delayed the 
building of the road, and it was not until the Spring of 1862 that the road was built. Regular trips were 
not made until July of that year, when cars were run from the corner of Main and High streets, Orange, 

to Market street depot, Newark. 

r- ' , ; .L~. *.,i..:i ' ; i : , —."■-■ ■■- ; ■■ ■ ■ ■ — ■ — ■ — ■ — — ' . — _ '"'■ Several years ago the Orange and 

Newark Horse Car Railroad Com- 
pany was absorbed by the Essex 
Passenger Railway Company, 
which had also secured control 
of the majority of horse car lines 
in Newark, and was run by them 
for several years. During the latter 
part of the year 1889 the majority 
of the stock of the Essex Passenger 
Railway Company was purchased 
by Philadelphia capitalists, and 
the name of the company changed 
to the Newark Passenger Railway 
Company. They propose to ex- 
tend their line in Orange up Main 
street to the West Orange line, and 
thence through Valley street, West 
Orange, to Tory corner, in that 
place. The entire line from the 
Market street depot, Newark, to 
Tory corner, West Orange, will be operated by the overhead electric system, with new and handsome 
cars, and the fare for the entire distance will be five cents each way. The completion of this electric 
road will be of inestimable benefit to the citizens of Orange, as it will give them rapid transit to 
Newark, and bring them into closer relations with that live business centre. 

EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES. 




Reynold's Terrace. 



There is no County in the 
State of New Jersey, which pos- 
sesses a better and more thor- 
ough system of Public Schools 
than is to be found in the 
County of Essex, and the 
schools of "the Oranges" are 
justly considered by all impar- 
tial judges, as among the best 
organized and most efficient 
in the County. The matter of 
education is a subject that has 
always received great attention 
in this progressive and cultured 
community. The Colonists from 
New Haven who settled Orange 
more than two hundred years 
ago, brought with them a keen 




Corner Lincoln and Highland Avenues. 



ORANGE AND ITS POINTS OF INTEREST. 




appreciation of the value and importance of the education of the young. The proportion of those 
whose signatures on early town records appear by their mark, is small, and this fact, taken in 
consideration with the circumstance thai learning in those days was not as general and as widely 
diffused as it is to-day, indicates an intelligent community. < >:u- of the earliest schools in Orange was a 
classical school t ir boys, taught by the Rev. Caleb Smith, who v/as the secondpastor of the Mountain, now 
l list Presbyterian Church. Exactly how long this school was conducted the records do not clearly indi- 
cate, but it is known that he was 
pastor of the church from Novem- 
ber 30, 1748, to October 22, 1762 — 
nearly fourteen years. The school 
was held in his study. Mr. Smith 
was a graduate of Yale College, 
and previous to his settlement in 
Orange, had assisted his father-in- 
law, the Rev. Mr. Dickinson, in 
teac hing .1 class in Latin at Eliza 
beth, then called Elizabethtown. 
Evidence of the existence of Mr. 
Smith's school in Orange is found 
in an old account book kept by 
him with his parishioners. Initare 
accounts with six young gentlemen, 
who are charged with the price 
of tuition, with Latin and Greek 
Grammars, and with several clas- 
sii il books, as well as with 
the price of board. The Rev. 
Jedediah Chapjpan, also a grad- 
uate of Vale College, succeeded Mr. Smith as pastor, and held the pastorate from 1766 to 1800— 
thirty-four A portion of this pastorate included the stormy period of the Revolutionar> 

war, when in all probability educational matters were overshadowed and neglected in the excitement of 
political interests, lint it was only for a brief period that the proper instruction of the young was suffered 
Main in ab 1 Pi had no sunn, r come than measures were taken to found the Orange Acad- 
emj A -.ill. hi. building two stories high was erected on Main Street in 1786. The building 

■ nly torn down a few years ago, although, for in m. years before that it had been used for business, 
tot for school purpose.--. From earl) records it appears that the Academy was intended to beapub- 
hool, foi h u "i all the inhabitants ol Orange. The association which built the Academy, \i 
first purely voluntary, as the earliest statute for incorpo 1 institutions of learning, was passed in 
1791, and the trustees sunn after availed th :ms tlves of it and \< < 1 incorporated body. It had a high 
reputation as a classical school, and its fame drew patronag from abroad. Among its pupils was John 
Mi Pherson Berrien, afterwards a prominent citi/en of Georgia, who served his State in the United States 
Senate tor fifteen years, and was also Attorney-General of the United States. 
Joseph ('. Hornblower, afterwards Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey, and one of the 
ii New Jersej has ever produced, was also a graduate of this Academy. Among 
other schools ot prominence in theearlj histnr\ of Orange, were the old white school house, near where the 
it Brick Church st inds in East I ' ind that of Mint Polly Condit, which was started on Main 

Street, near Day. The latter was started il t [812. 

In the earl\ part of the present century a publfc si hool was opened in that part of Orange known as 

Tory C 1, nov. included in the limits of West Orange. The lirst teachet was a Scotchman named 

Simon Simpson. lie remained there but a few ,cars. when ned and returned to his native coun- 

try, but suiiseipiently 1 am e I. < k to Orange, where his daughters established a young ladies seminary 



Corner Central Aveni i \m> Center Street. 



ORANGE AND ITS POINTS OF INTEREST. 9 

The school established at Tory Corner, by Mr. Simpson, was afterwards taught by Mr. Shaler J. 
Hillyer, and under his management it became one of the most noted institutions of learning in the coun- 
ty. Among the most prominent schools of later days were those of Miss Julia A. Dobridge and the 
Rev. Joshua D. Berry, both of them schools for boys and girls; Mr. TenBroeck's school for boys, the Rev. 
C. S. Stocking's boarding school for boys, the Misses Bradshaw's Young Ladit s' Seminary, the Young Ladies' 
Seminary at Brick Church, founded by Rev. F. A. Adams, D. D., who afterwards had one of the leading 




Corner Scotland Road and Montrose Avenue. 

(Orange Mountains in distance.) 

boys' schools. The Misses Robinson, whose father. Col. Chester Robinson, was for many years Principal 
of the Orange Academy, and one of the most noted educators in the place, for many years conducted a 
Young Ladies' school on the corner of Main Street and Lincoln Avenue, Orange, which they only gave 
up during the present Summer. This school is now continued by the Rev. C. S. Stocking. The Dear- 
born-Morgan school, on Main Street, is one of the best known private schools in this section. It also 
fits pupils of both sexes for college, as thoroughly as any preparatory school. 

As early as 18 1 7 a fund was founded by voluntary contributions of the benevolent for the education of 
children whose parents were unable to pay for their tuition. This fund has been carefully nurtured, and 
the revenue therefrom now goes toward the education of children at the Orphans' Home. In 1846 
the office of Township Superintendent of Public Schools was created. The history of public schools in 
Orange has been one of continued progress, although the setting off of East and West Orange proved for a 
time a great detriment to the establishment of a proper system of graded schools. In 1861 the propriety 
and advantage of combining the districts in the central parts of the town and establishing a high school 
began to be considered. In 1862 the movement became quite general in the Ashland, Central and St. 
Mark's districts, which embraced territory containing about twc-thirds of the children of the town. This 



■ o ORANGE AND ITS POINTS OF INTEREST. 

, list ri. t extend d from what is now Walnut street, East Orange, to the topof First Mountain. The effort 
to establish graded schools aroused considerable opposition in the outlying and thinly-settled districts 
as the residents oi those I", alities insisted that they wen- practically deprived of the benefit of the gram- 
mar si hools, as thi din the centre of the town, and at such a distance that it was difficult for 
their children to reach them. The troubles about the schools in connection with other differences be- 
tween the central and outlying districts, led to the separation of East and West Orange from Orange. In 
April, 1 868, the Legislature passed a law pining the public schools of the town of Orange under tin 
care of a Hoard of Edu< ation, composed of nine members, three from each ward. This centralization of 
the work of public instruction has been attended with excellent results, among which are uniformity in 
the course of study and in text books, a thorough system of discipline, the selection of principals and 
teachers by a system of rigid examinations, and the supervision of the entire educational system by a 
Superintendent of Public Schools, appointed by the Board of Education, and responsible to them alone. 
The present Board of Education consists of twelve members (three from each of the four wards). The 
President of the Hoard is Mr. Augustus T. Grinsted, who is a former principal of one of the Orange 
schools. The Superintendent of Schools is Prof. Usher W. Cutts, who has held this position for many 
Orange has now a high school and grammar and primary schools. The number of children en- 
rolled in the schools, as appears by the report of the Board for the year 1889, was 2,098, and the amount 
expended for the support of public schools in Orange was $35,999.10 

All of the public school buildings of Orange are large and substantial structures of brick, with consid- 
erable architectual beauty ; all have ample grounds, large and airy court yards, are yvell lighted and ven- 
tilated, and the 1 lo attention has been paid to sanitary matters, as well as to providing proper egress 
in case of lire or panic. The capacity of the four principal school buildings is as follows : High School, 
nine rooms, seating capacity, 380 ; Park Avenue, eleven rooms, seating capacity, 537 ; Lincoln Avenue. 
eight rooms, seating 380 ; Valley, two rooms, seating 105. 

WATER SUPPLY AND SEWERAGE. 

Until 18S4 the City of Orange had no public source of water supply. The citizens were compelled to 
depend upon wells and cisterns for all water which they used for drinking and domestic purposes. As 
the town began to increase in population and buildings multiplied and yvere placed near together, it be 
came evident that at no distant day the citizens of Orange would be compelled, not only by sanitary rea- 
sons, but for the sake of getting a larger quantity of water, to seek for a 'permanent supply for the entire 
town, This was emphasized by the fact that for fire purposes the city was entirely dependent upon 
brooks and cisterns, and that the watei frequently gave out at fires. The late David N. Ropes, as well 
as the late Dr. William Pierson, together with George J. Ferry, Edward Austin and George H. Hartford, 
former Mayors of Orange, all up, iction in this matter. While Mr. Ropes was in the Common Coun- 
cil from 1866 to 1870, he persistent!) advocated the procuring of anewsupply. The subject was discussed- 
for several years, and various sources of suppl) were considered, Mr. Ropes being ably seconded bv 
George Spotti md a number oi leading citizens of both parties. There were, however, man) 

citizens and tax-payers who were bitterly opposed to taking any action in the matter, on account of the 
expense, and little or nothing was done until 1882, when it was decided to take the supply from the west 
branch of the Railway river. Lands were purchased, water-rights acquired and a large storage reservoir 
was constructed on lands between the first and Si 1 "iid Mountains, just South of Northfield Avenue, West 
Orange. The quantity of land taken for reservoir purposes was 100.65 acres. Theareaflowed .'.3365.647 
acres. The capai it) of the basin is about 270,0^0,000 gallons, and at a comparative!) small expense this 
1 apai ity can be increased to 470,000,000 gallons. The dam is 832 feet long from the westerly end to the 
overflow. It is 20 feet wide on the top, and has a cemented wall ten feet thick at the base, running its entire 
length The overflow line is elevated 142 feet above the level of the railroad at Cone Street, thus insuring 
sufficient pressure to reach the top of the highest building in Orange. Hydrants are set near the street cor- 
ners and along the lines of streets, so that nearly every point in the city can be reached with 250 feet of 
hose. The works were turned over to the city in 1884. 'I' he cost of construction was $388,875.44. Since then 



ORANGE AND ITS POINTS OF INTEREST. n 

additional sums have been expended on the works, and in extending and improving the plant and laying 
new mains, so that the entire cost of the water supply is $425,000. The city spends at the rate of $7,000 
per year for new mains, maintenance of the works, elc. The supply of water for household and fire 
purposes is an abundant one, and for the latter it is so great that not a serious fire has occurred since the 
construction of the works. There are at present 200 fire hydrants in the city of Orange, n in South 
Orange and 2 in West Orange. 



THE PRESS. 

Orange has one daily and three weekly newspapers, published in the English language, and one weekly 
paper in the German language. The oldest paper in Orange, is the Journal, which is published every 
Saturday morning, by Mr. Edgar Williams. It was first issued July 1, 1854, by Edward Gardner, and 
was then the only paper in Essex County, outside the city of Newark. In i860, Mr. Gardner sold the 
Journal to Messrs. Henry C. Bloomfield and Henry Farmer. These gentlemen retained proprietorship 
until July 13, 1861, when Mr. Gardner again assumed possession, and remained at its head until the 
Spring of 1870, when Mr. J. M. Reuck of the New York Evening Post, assumed control. During the 
war the Journal- was outspoken in its support of the Union and the Republican party. Mr. Reuck also 
made the paper a vigorous Republican organ. On April 1, 1876, Mr. Oliver Johnson purchased the 

paper, changed it 
from a folio to a 
quarto, made 

many improve- 
ments in its typo 
graphical appear- 
ance, but made 
the mistake of at 
tempting to make 
the paper more 
of a literary and 
artistic journal, 
than a newspa- 
per. In 1879 the 
paper was pur- 
( based by Mr. 
Samuel Toombs. 
a former Newark 
journalist, who at 
once changed the 
character of the 
paper and devot- 
ed its work to 
the home field, 
magnifying home 
interests, and 

giving full and accurate reports of all occurrences in the Oranges. Under Mr. Toombs' 
able management the Journal entered upon an era cf prosperity and influence, such as it had never occu- 
pied before. Mr. Toombs decided to make his paper a semi-weekly in October, 1SS3, and went to a heavy 
expense in doing so. For a while the new departure was very popular, and the venture a successful one. 
In the following Spring the paper removed to larger quarters. It was soon found, however, that a semi- 
weekly pap;r could not be made a permanent financial success in Orange, and the Journal returned to 
its former status as a weekly. In 1887 Mr. Toombs left the Journal to engage in literary work of another 




The Toboggan Slide in Orange Valley. 



(>A'.1.Y<;/: AND ITS POINTS OF INTEREST. 



character, and Mr. Edgar Williams became editor and proprietor. Under his able management the 

paper has prospered to a remarkable degree, improvements have been made in the make up of the paper. 
careful attention is paid to all loi al news, and the paper occupies a position of influence among the Re- 
publican press of the State 

The Orange Chronicle is an independent paper in its politics, devoting its attention entirely to the 

interests of 
the city and 
supporting or 
c r i t i c i z i n g 
men and meas- 
ures on their 
merits, and 
without re- 
gard to their 
party affilia- 
tions. The first 
number of the 
Chronicle was 
issued Janua- 
ry 30, 1869, 
by Frank W. 
Baldwin and 
Joseph Atkin- 
son. During 
May, 1870, Mr. 
He has ever 




Main Street, Opposite Chronicle Building 



the year 1869, Mr. Atkinson sold his interest to J. B. Loomis, and in 
Baldwin purchased Mr. Loomis' interest and secured full control of the paper, 
since conducted the editorial and business management of the paper with marked ability and success. 
The Chronicle has been enlarged three times. It is issued every Saturday morning, and is taken by the 
best people in all the Oranges. It is bright and newsy and gives detailed and accurate reports of al] 
public meetings. in the Oranges, as well as of all local events, and contains a great deal of interesting 
gossip of the day, while its selected matter is more than ordinarily interesting and readable. It is one of 
the best pa\ ing newspapers in the County. 

The Orange Volksbote, which is printed in the German language, is devoted to the interests of the Ger- 
man-American residents of the < (range It is Democratic in politics, and is a six-column paper, issued 
weekly, [t was established in i8-> by Darstaedt & Erdman. En 1876 Mr. Darstaedt disposed of his interest 
in the paper to Mr. Erdman, and the latter has been editor and publisher ever sir.c e. 

The Orange Mail is a daily afternoon newspaper, with an increasing circulation. It was started 
April i, 1888, by Samuel Toombs and Daniel 1'. Libby. On the death of Mr. Toombs in March, 1889, 
the paper passed into the hands of a stock company, and Mr. Libby assumed full control of the editorial 
and business management. In politics the Mail is Republican, and it vigorously supports the candidates 
and policy of the party, and at the same time gives detailed and .11 1 urate reports of all the local events in 
the Oranges. ♦ 

The Orange Herald is a weekly Democratic paper, which has been conducted for about two years past 
by Mr. Daniel Dugan. It has taken a strong stand against the saloon element in the Democratic party 
of Orange, and has quite considerable standing. 



FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT. 

The Orange Fire Department, though one of the most efficient departments of the city govern- 
ment, is one whose history dates back bul verj few years. ' to 1857 Orange was without a Fire 
Department. For a year or two previous to i860 spasmodic efforts had been made to establish a fire 



ORANGE AND ITS POINTS OF INTEREST. 



'3 



company in the place, which was then beginning to grow into large proportions, but they were all signal 
failures. During the year 1859 Mr. H. M Graham, an enterprising citizen of Orange, raised money suf- 
ficient to partially pay for a hand eng;ne. The engine was procured and brought to the town, and a vol. 

unteer company organized, but the Township Com- 
mittee refused to purchase it or to make any appro- 
priation towards its purchase. The old fogy element 
in the town was opposed to the formation of a Fire 
Department. They claimed there was no need of it, 
as there had never been any serious fires in the place, 
and that a fire of any kind was an almost unheard-of 
event, therefore there was no need to burden the tax- 
payers with the support of a department that was 
practically useless. It was also urged that if an en- 
gine were purchased the rowdies in the town would 
set fire to buildings for the fun of seeing the engine 
work. Mr. Graham saw that it was useless to press 
the subject, and the engine was finally returned to 
its owners. When the town was incorporated in i860 
attention was again called to the subject, and Mr. 
Graham, who had been dubbed " Chief Engineer," 
made a humorous report to the public of the con- 
dition of the Fire Department, in which he stated that 
its most reliable apparatus was a syringe, a large 
sponge and a bucket. The satire had but little effect, 
though several times later on short-lived hook and 
ladder or engine companies were organized. It v/as 
not until 1867 that a permanent hook and ladder 
company was organized. This was the germ from 
which a Fire Department sprang. Later on a 
steam fire engine, a hose carriage, a hook and ladder truck and a hand engine were added. I/i 1873 the 
volunteer Fire Department was 
disbanded and a paid Fire De- 
partment organized under Chief 
Engineer John J. Fell. The 
hand engine was sold and an- 
other steamer added, and horses 
were procured to draw the en- 
gines. The department at pres- 
ent consists of two steam fire 
engine companies and two trucks. 
The pressure on the water mains 
of sixty pounds to the square 
inch is sufficient to give the de- 
partment all the water they re- 
quire for fires under ordinary cir- 
cumstances, and to throw streams 
over the highest buildings in the 
place, and it is but rarely that the 
engines are called into service. 

Orange has always borne the 
reputation of a quiet and orderly Winter Scene Opp. P. O. 




A Mountain Brook. 




ORANGE AND ITS POINTS OF INTKKI-ST. 



'4 

community and although constables were elected from times dating back beyond the memory 
of the oldest inhabitant, yet there was little or nothing for them to do, and it was not until 
the incorporation of the town that an effort was made to orgaaize a police force, and then 
the " force * consisted of a Town Marshal, John Grannis, and occasional specials for extra duty. 
This state of affairs continued for several years. As late as 1870 the entire police force of 
Orange consisted of a marshal and two patrolmen. A building in Center street was leased and fitted 
up for a station-house and police court. Soon after the force was increased and improvements 
were made in the discipline of the force. The temporary quarters of the police were found to be uttedy 
madequate to the needs of the department, and the present station-house on Center street was erected 
The force now consists of Chief of Police William McChesney, two sergeants and twenty patrolmen. 

PUBLIC BUILDINGS IN ORANGE. 

Within the last few years several handsome buildings have been erected on Main street, and others 
are in course of construction. There is no building in which citizens of all the Oranges take more pride 
than Music Hall, forming, as it does, a rallying place for them all. for concerts, lectures and drama- 
tic performances. 
This hall is an 
elegant three-sto- 
ry structure, in 
the English goth- 
ic style of archi- 
tecture, and is 
constructed of 
Philadelphia 
brick and brown - 
stone, with terra- 
cotta trimmings. 
It stands on the 
northeast corner 
of Main and Day 
streets. The six- 
ty feet frontage 
is divided into 
triple bays: gran- 
ite columns, with 
carved graystone 
caps form the 
in the centre. A broad, fireproof staircase leads up to 
spacious lobbies tiled throughout. Beyond this lobby is 




UALLA 



Music Hall and First Presbyterian Church. 



portals to a twelve-foot 
the second floor, where 



entrance 

tne seconu uvui, miwt there are .,j,,*w.~-« 

the entrance to the main auditorium. The floor of this auditorium slants gradually toward the stage. 
The space occupied by the orchestra chairs and dress circle is 61x57 feet. There is a gallery immedi- 
ately above, extending entirely around the sides, this being on the third-story level. At the north end 
of the hall is adarg "ell supplied with scenery, dressing rooms, etc. The interior of the hall is 

handsomely decorated, the acoustic properties are excellent, the greatest care has been paid to ventila- 
tion, and, altogether, Music Hall is in every respect a chaiming audience room. During the amusement 
seas,, :l it'is occupied the greater part of the time lor either musical or dramatic entertainments. In fai t. 
more than once so. pie from Newark have been forced to avail themselves of Music Hall for 

balls and other entertainments, as before Miner's Theatre was completed there was no place in that city 
suitable for such entertainments, and even now ihey are often forced to come to Music Hall, for the rea- 
son that it is impossible always to get Miner's Theatre. Some of the most select balls held in Essex 
County are given in this hall every \\ inter. On the first story of this building are the stores of Parsons & 



ORANGE AND ITS POINTS OF INTEREST. 



'5 



Co., druggists, and S. & J. Davis, caterers and confectioners. On the second story of the building, 
on the opposite side of the lobby from the hall are the rooms of the New England Society. On the third 
floor is a smaller hall, known as Upper Music Hall. 

The Masonic Building, which stands on the north side of Main street, below the First Methodist 
Church, is an imposing brick 
structure, three stories high. 
The facade is of Philadelphia 
pressed brick, with terra-cotta 
trimmings. On the first story 
are the post office and stores, 
and a broad entrance way open- 
ing upon the staircase leading 
to the upper stories. On the 
second floor are offices, and on 
the third floor is a handsomely 
appointed lodge room, which is 
occupied on different nights 
by Union and Corinthian 
Lodges, F. & A. M., and Or- 
ange Chapter, Royal Arch 
Masons. This building is the 
property of Union Lodge, 
which is one of the oldest Ma- 
sonic lodges in the Stat- 3 of 
New Jersey. It was erected 
3 years ago, and cost $50,000. 
It is the handsomest Masonic 
building within a hundred 
miles of New York 

The Orange Memorial 
Hospital, which is a tasteful 
brick structure, is situated on 
Essex ave., near Henry st. It 
is the only hospital in the 
County outside the city of 
Newark, and is supported by 
the contributions of the benev- 
olent in all the Oranges. It 
was originally founded by the 

late John G. Vose, one of the most enterprising and public spirited citizens of Orange, to whose energy 
and public spirit the thriving settlement of Montrose is largely due. Mr. Vose was prompted to build 
the hospital as a memorial to a departed wife, whom he most tenderly loved, but not feeling altogether 
able to build such a hospital as he wished to see, from his private means, and feeling that others might 
like to join him in making this hospital a memorial of their departed ones, he gave it the name it at 
present bears. The idea became a popular one. Others gladly contributed to it in memory of their 
loved ones who had entered into rest, and from this slender beginning arose the present fine building. 
Only a few years ago Mr. John Burke, of Llewellyn Park, erected the Burke Pavilion, as an addition to 
the hospital, in memory of a departed brother. There are many beautiful memorials of others in ami 
around the building. The hospital is under the control of a board of lady managers, whose members 
represent the leading families of all the Oranges. There is also an advisory board, composed of the 




Masonic Hall, Orange 



If) 



ORANGE AND ITS POINTS OF INTEREST. 




Orange Memorial Hospital. 



most prominent gentlemen of the 
four Oranges, while on the sur- 
gical staff are the leading physi- 
cians of the four places. Adjoin- 
ing the hospital is the Training 
School for Nurses, the students of 
which care for the patients in the 
hospital while pursuing their 
studies. 

A handsome edifice for the 
Home of the Good Shepherd, a 
home for aged people supported 
by the Episcopal churches of the 
Oranges, is also being erected on 
Essex av., in vicinity of hospital. 

The Woman's Christian 
Temperence Union have a taste- 
ful brick edifice on the southwest 
corner of South Main and Com- 
merce streets. This also contains 
a fair-sized hall for meetings. 
The Orange Free Library occupies a modest frame building on South Main street, near Prince. 
It is becoming every year more popular. 

The Bureau of Associated Charities, which is a sort of clearing house for all the charitable work 
of the city, and is designed to prevent fraud and imposition on the charitable, and at the same time to 
help the deserving poor, occupy a large, two-story frame building on Essex avenue. 

YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION. 

419 Main Street, Orange, N. J. 

BOARD OF TRUSTEE?, 

Incorporated December, 1887. 

SAMUEL COLGATE, President, 

ROBERT D. DOUGLASS, Secretary. AARON CARTER, Treasurer. 

Jonathan J. BrGOKE, George Gray, Jacob D. Mills, 

FreiVk M. Shf.I'ARD, Joseph W. Stickler, 

\nil the President of the Association, ex-officio. 

OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION. 
R. M. COLGATE, President" 

A. D. CHAMBERS, Treasurer. 

DAVID G. HOLMES, Secretary Pro. tern. 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS. 
Geo. Battles, M. D., Edw. Green, 

Gilbert Colgate, vv. s. Knowles, 

Edw. E. Ci *>. W. Richards, 

Sumner P. Dudley, J. W. Stickler, 

Thos. S. P. Fitch, M. I)., Henry ii. Truman, 

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS. 
Harold W. Buchan w. Genera] Been t.i' 

.Limn M, Lantng, Jr., Assistant Seen 

John E. Dalphin, i ifflce Assistant 

Edwin W. Logan, Physical Director. 

VALLEY BRANCH.— 72 Freeman Strfet. 

Gilbert Colgate, Chi mil John M. Laning, Jr. Secretary, [pi 

COLORED DEP IRTMENT.— Willow Hall, Main Street. 




ORANGE AND ITS POINTS OF INTEREST. ,- 

CHURCHES AHD CEMETERIES. 

Orange may well be called a city of churches. There is scarcely a denomination of any importance 
that is not represented within its limits. Many of its churches are models of architectural beauty 
The oldest is the First Presbyterian. This is the oldest church organization in the County, 
outside of the city of Newark. It was organized in 17 19, as "The Mountain Society," and was known as 
such for nearly or quite a century. As late as 1753 the parish embraced what is now Orange, East, 
West and South Orange, Livingston, Bloomfield, Montclairand Caldwell. In 1720 ground was purchased 
from Samuel Wheeler, on which to erect a house of worship. The site selected was in the middle of 
what is now Main Street, between Day and Cone streets. The roadbed parted at the church and ran on 
either side of it, meeting again beyond the edifice. In 1754, a second edifice was erected, also in the 
middle of Main Street. It was built of stone and was possessed of little or no architectural beauty. On 
June n, 1783 the Legislature of New Jersey incorporated the Church under the title of the Second 
Presbyterian Church of Newark. When the township of Orange was set off from Newark in 1806, it be- 
came necessary for the Church to change its corporate name, and by an act of the Legislature the title 
was changed to the First Presbyterian Church of Orange, which name it still bears. In May, 18 r 1, a half 
acre of land was purchased on the north side of what is now Main street, of Stephen D. Day for $400, 
and the present church edifice was erected. The corner stone was laid September 15, 1812. The old 
meeting house was taken down, and the material, as far as possible, was used in constructing the new. 
The stone tablet over the door of the old building was transferred to the inside of the tower of the new, 
where it remains at the present day. The church was dedicated in September, 1813. The old parsonage 
was built upon a four-acre lot purchased of Mathew Williams on the north side of Main street, opposite 
where Military Park now is, and included the lot now occupied by Grace Church, the plot being twenty 
acres in extent. The deed was given September 13, 1748. The price paid was four pounds per acre. 
The house was completed in the Summer of 1749, and in September of that year, Caleb Smith, the pastor 
of the church, with his young wife took possession of the house, which was then one of the best mansions 
west of Newark. The house was occupied thirteen years by Mr. Smith, was then leased to tenants, then 
occupied thirty years by another pastor, and fourteen years by another, and then used forty years as a 
tenement house, after which it was demolished. Some of the stones of the old parsonage were set in the 
dwelling of Albert Pierson, in 1854. Others were used in the foundations of Willow Hall, and others 
were converted into tomb-stones in Rosedale Cemetery. In 1836 measures were taken to provide a new 
parsonage. A lot on High street was purchased of Abraham Harrison at two dollars per foot. The lot 
was fifty feet front, and Mr. Harrison added a tract equally large by way of donation. The house was 
finished in the Spring of 1837 and occupied by the pastor, the Rev. William C. White. When Mr. White 
retired from active service in 1855 the church donated him the parsonage and lot, and this property is 
still in possession of his heirs. Among other means of defraying their expenses the trustees of the old First 
Presbyterian Church resolved to build a sloop in 1784, and run it between Newark and Albany, the par- 
ish to receive one-third of the profits of each trip. This sloop was known as the Orange Sloop. The 
sloop and the dock in Newark from which it ran, were sold about 1812. The present church edifice 
comprises a large portion of the building dedicated in 1813, but has been enlarged and remodeled 
several times. The church has always been prominently identified with the history of the town, and 
its members have always been noted for their ardent patriotism. 

Rev. Jedediah Chapman, who was its pastor duringthe Revolutionary War, espoused warmly the cause 
of the Colonists, and more than once attempts were made to capture him and take him to the British 
Camp, in order that he might be punished for his outspoken loyalty to the cause of freedom The loving 
vigilance of his people, however, frustrated all these attempts and he was enabled to escape in safety from 
British and Tory spies. During the civil war the congregation of the First Presbyterian Church were 
noted for their loyalty to the Union, and from the outbreak of the war till its close its pastor, the Rev. 
James Hoyt, was outspoken in his denunciation of secession and slavery, and in his support of the 
National government; indeed, the First Presbyterian Church was the rallying place for more than one 



,.\ 



ORANGE AND ITS POINTS OF INTEREST 



Union meeting, as well as for gatherings to furnish means to aid and relieve the soldiers, who were at the 
front cm- suffering from wounds and sickness in hospitals. 

The Central Presbyterian Church had its origin from the fact that the First Presbj terian Church and 
the Second, now Brick Church, East Orange, belonged to the New School branch of the Presbyterian 
body, while there were among the parishioners of both churches, several families who had removed from 
New York and Brooklyn, who belonged to the New School. In November, 1866, a meeting was held in 
St. Mark's S< hool house, on the borders of Llewellyn Park, to confer about a new church. On the 27th 




Main St., Opp. Common, Looking West. 

ot November it was resolved by the same gentlemen to form a new congregation. Subsequent to this 
Central Hall was secured and fitted up as a place of worship. Public worship was first held there Sun- 
day, December 16, 1866. The Church was organized with thirty-three members, by the Presbytery of 
Passaic, January 20, 1867. In 1869 a lot on the corner of Main and Prime streets was purchased, and 
the erection of the present church edifice was begun. The building was finished and dedicated |uly 14, 
1872. 

The German Presbyterian Church, whose edifice is situated on William street, between Park and Hillyer 
streets, had its origin in the earnest efforts of Rev. Christian Wismer, of the German Theological Semi- 
nary, of Bloomfield, who visited the German people of Orange with a view to organize a Mission or Church 
among them. He was well received by both Germans and Americans. The First Presbyterian Church 
tendered him the use of their session room for his services, and services were held there until 1866, when 
the First German Presbyterian Church of Orange was duly organized, with the Rev. Christian Wismer as 
pastor. The corner-stone of the present church edifice was laid August 28, 1869, and the church was 
ated on the 28th of the following December. 



ORANGE AND ITS POINTS OF INTEREST. 



T 9 



The Methodist Church is very strong in Orange, having a large membership, and being very active 
in its work. The earliest Methodist services of which there are any record in the Oranges, were 
held in the old school house at Tory Corner in 1819 and '20, by Rev. Charles Pitman, a missionary. In 
the Autumn of 1 828 Rev. Isaac Winner, of Belleville, held occasional services in the house of a Mr. Bishop, 
near the corner of Main and Cone streets. On the last Sunday in August, 1829, old Masonic Hall on 
Main street was hired by the Methodists, and opened for divine worship. On September 20, 1830, the 
Board of Trustees of the Methodist Church purchased the lot on which the present edifice stands, and 
began the erection of a modest structure there. The first settled pastor was Rev. E. S: Janes, afterwards 




Main St., Opp. the Common, Looking East. 



one of the most prominent Bishops of the Methodist Church. The first building was removed in 1859 
and the present brick structure was erected in its place. It has been enlarged once or twice since, and 
the congregation is in a flourishing condition. From this church have sprung several Mission Chapels 
as well as the large and flourishing Calvary M. E. Church in East Orange. 

Grace Episcopal Church is the second of the churches of this communion in the Oranges, and is an 
offshoot from St. Mark's, West Orange. It was organized by the Rev. Joshua I). Berry, who had charge of 
a flourishing school in Orange. The town of Orange, which at that time comprised Orange, East and 
West Orange, was just entering upon its career of prosperity resulting from the infusion of New York and 
New England blood into the community, and the need of an Episcopal Church more centrally located 
than St. Mark's, was beginning to be felt. A meeting was held in "Bodwell Hall, corner of Park and Will- 
iam streets, on March 5, 1854, when Grace Church parish was formally organized by the election of Jesse 
Williams and Philander J. Bodwell, as wardens, and eight vestrymen The lot upon which Grace Church 



20 ORANGE AXD ITS POINTS OF INTEREST. 

stands, was purchased from the trustees of the First Presbyterian Church for $3,000. Ground was broken 
for the new edifice during the Summer of 1856, and on August 12, of the same year, the corner stone was 
laid. The edifice is built of brown sand stone, taken from a quarry in Pleasant Valley, West Orange, and 
was completed during June, 1857. The Church was consecrated July 16, 1857, by the Right Reverand 
George W. Doane, D. 1)., L. I.. D, Bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey, a large concourse of clergy 
being present. The cost of the church edifice and furniture was $1 1,000. At that time there were 113 
, ,mmunicants in the parish. The first rector of the church was the Rev. James S. Bush, who entered 
upon his duties in July, 1856, and resigned in 1867. During the civil war, Mr. Bush was very outspoken 
in his loyalty to the Union, and in consequence incurred considerable hostility from certain ones who did 
not agree with his views. He held his own, however, and the Church soon acquired the reputation o* 
being one of the most patriotic in Essex County. In 1868 Mr. Bush was succeeded by the present rector, 
the Rev. Anthony Schuyler, D. D. During this same year a rectory was built on William street, at a cost 
of $9,000. Under the ministrations of Dr. Schuyler, the history of Grace Church has been one of prog, 
ress and prosperity. In 1872 the congregation had increased to such an extent that an addition to the 
church was necessary, and a brownstone transept and chancel were added, and a new organ was pro- 
cured, f e cost of these improvements being $20,000. In 1877 another addition was made, consisting of 
a brownstone Chapel and Sunday School room, costing $6,000. During 1888 Grace Church was again 
enlarged and beautified, and in 1890 the tower erected. 

The North Orange Baptist Church is the leading one of that denomination in the Oranges. It was 
organized in YVaverly Hall, May 11, 1857, at first as a Mission and Sunday School. On August 2, 1857, 
thirty-nine persons signified their willingness to unite in the formation of a Baptist Church. On Septem- 
ber 23, of the same year, the Rev. J. B. Moss was chosen pastor, and on November 5, 1857, he was 
installed, and the Church was publicly recognized by the council of Baptist churches, under the title of 
the North Orange Baptist Church. In December, 1859, the trustees purchased a lot on Main street, and 
erected a church, this being now a portion of the present lecture room and Sunday School. The present 
church was completed and dedicated May 31, 1874, and cost $75.°°°- Il has since been ad ded to and is 
now one of the handsomest and most imposing structures in Orange, and forms a conspicuous feature of 
Main street, standing as it does, on the corner of Main and Prince streets, facing the common. It has always 
numbered among its membership some of the wealthiest of the citizens of Orange. The Church has 
always been a most liberal contributor to missionary, denominational, and benevolent objects. 

The Orange Valley Congregational Church, which stands on Highland avenue, near Lincoln 
avenue, is one of the most unique and beautiful church edifices in Orange. ' It is built of trap rock from 
the mountain side, with brownstone trimmings, and is in the Gothic style of architecture. It was com- 
pleted in in 1868. The site on which the church stands, is a commanding bluff looking down upon the 
Orange Valley, and over across it upon the sloping sides of the Orange mountain, with its dense growth 
of forest, broken here and there by elegant villa sites and stately mansions, while in other directions may be 
obtained a superb view of the Oranges and the surrounding country. A chime of bells is hung in the tall 
steeple, and the sweet music of these bells can be heard for miles around. The first church edifice was 
down in the Valley, a short distance below, and is now occupied as a Roman Catholic Church. The first 
pastor of the Orange Valley Church, was the Rev George B. Bacon, D. D., son of Leonard Bacon, the 
famous abolitionist. Dr. Bacon was very vigorous in his denunciation of slavery, and in his support of the 
Union during the war of '6i-'65, and formed one of a brilliant coterie of patriotic pastors, who did much 
to mould public sentiment in favor of maintaining the Union cause. Dr. Bacon remained pastor until his 
death, in 1876. During his pastorate the church was enlarged and a new organ procured. 

1'he Roman Catholic Church in Orange had its beginning about 1848, although the parish was not 
organized until 1850. From its start its career has been one of unexampled prosperity, with the excep- 
tion of an unfortunate financial disaster which overtook it fifteen or eighteen years ago, when, through 
some mistakes in its management it became involved in debt to the extent of several hundred thous- 
and dollars. The other Catholic Churches of the diocese, however, ra'lied to its support and it was saved. 
From 1850 to 1869, the congregation of St. John's Catholic Church worshiped in a modest frame structure 
which still stands on the corner of White and Chapel streets. This is now used as a hall. The present 



ORANGE AND ITS POINTS OF INTEREST. ,, 

beautiful structure stands on the corner of Ridge and White streets, the highest point of land in 
the city, and is surmounted by a stone spire terminating in a cross, and reaching an altitude of over two 
hundred feet. The tower contains a chime of bells of remarkably sweet tone. The church edifice is 
built of red sandstone and trap rock, in the Gothic style of architecture. It has a seating capacity of , ooo 
and the membership of the Church is very large. In addition to this, it is the handsomest church in 
Orange. The parish owns a tasteful parochial residence, several halls, sisters' houses and parochial school 




Near Valley Road. 



buildings. The value of the Church property is in the neighborhood of $200,000. The present pastor is 
the Rev. H. P. Fleming, who has been in charge since 1874. 

Other parishes of the Roman Catholic Church are Our Lady of the Valley, corner of Nassau and 
Valley streets, and a German Catholic Church. Both have large congregations and are in a flourishing 
condition. 

The most prominent cemetery in Orange is Rosedale. It is beautifully situated in the north-eastern 
extremity of the city, on Dodd and Washington streets, and contains about 100 acres, tastefully laid out. 
The surface of the ground is gently undulating, and the walks and drives are well kept, and shaded by 
grand old forest trees, as are also the burial plots. Artificial enclosures are being done away with, the 
lawn plan adopted wherever practical, and the culture of flowers is enco-iraged A pretty little lake near 
the centre of the grounds, forms a charming feature of this silent city of the dead. Among the many 



ORANGl AND ITS POINTS OF INTEREST. 

beautiful monuments here are .1 massive granite one on the plot of H. B. Auchincloss, a sar< ophagus on 
tin' plot ol R. I '. Westcott, and an elaborate.' memorial cross erected by the late John G Vosc, of South 
Orange, in memor) of a beloved wife. 

The Old Burying ('.round, as it is generally known, was for many years, theonly burial place in the 
' (rang* s, and is the property of the First Presb) terian Church. It was deeded to the "Mountain Society" (now 
the First Presbyterian Chun h), bj Nathaniel Wheeler for a burial place, soon after the organization of 
that society. In 1792 about two acres was added to it by purchase, from the heirs of Samuel Ogden. It 
is situated on the corner of Main and Scotland streets, and contains the remains of all the first settlers of 
the Oranges, as well as the ancestors oi many of the prominent families of the place. Some of the tomb- 
stones date back as far as 1726. Here are to be- found the familiar names of Harrison, Williams, Crane, 
Pierson, Model. Baldwin, Munn, Peck, Condit, Freeman and mam others. For years this cemetery has 
not been Used for interment, ex< ept in very rare cases, when some descendant of the old families was 
brought there to belaid away among his forefathers. The cemetery was in a state of shameful neglect 
for a long period, but lately it has been cleared up and put in order, but even now it is anything but an 
. ilttic tive place of sepulchre,'. 

St. Mark's Cemetery is situated cm Main street, adjoining the Old Burying Ground. It is in a 
better condition than the latter, and contains the remains of the Right Rev. William Rollinson Whittingham, 
I). I)., L. L. !>.. Bish >p oi Maryland, who was the first rector of St. Mark's Church, before his elevation 
to the episi opate, and who made his Summer home in Orange, and died there in 1879; also the bodies of 
benjamin Williams, and Caleb Harrison, the founders of St. Mark's Church, and the Rev. James A. Will- 
iams, for forty-sewn years its rector Interments are but rarely made here now. Rosed ale Cemetery being 
the principal burial place in the Oranges. 

St. John's Cemetery is situated on the corner of Park avenue and Chapel street, and is entered In 
a drive-way from White street. It is the chief burial place of the Roman Catholics of Orange, and is 
t.is'rlulh laid out. 



WEST ORANGE. 



The township of West Orange is the most westerly and northerly of all the Oranges. It was created by 
an act of the Legislature.', Man li 11, i86j, when the township of Fairmount was formed from portions of 
< Ir mge, Caldwell and Livingston. In 1863 the Legislature, in consequence of troubles \\ hich had arisen 
in regard to the public schools, set of another portion of Orange to the township of Fairmount, and 
changed the name of Fairmount to West Orange. The township contains within its boundaries, some of 
the most beautiful and picturesipie drives and avenues in Essex County, and some of the most elegant and 
costly villas in Northern New Jersey. In its limits are also Llewellyn and Hutton Parks, and the famous 
Eagle Rock. Two mountain ranges cross the township, running nearly parallel to each other from 
northeast to southwest. These are known respectively as the First and Second mountains. The former 
was called bj the Indians the Watchung mountain. The principal stream in the town-hip is the West 
branch of the Rahway river. The mountain heights abound in attractive views, some of which have 
already been described. The township is noted for its fine streets and broad avenues, nearly all of wine h 
are paved with Telford pavement. The principal streets are also lighted with electricity. West I Man-, is 
preeminently a place ol residences, although there are a few hat factories in the place, as well as the Edi- 
son laboratory and phonograph works, 

I In- low n contains some of the finest residences, with extensive grounds, in New Jersey; also, a number 
of old-fashioned houses, the residences of descendants of the old settlers of the place. Some of them are 
nearly a hundred years old, while others date back to the Revolutionary period. 

West Orange has a fine system of public schools, the principal ones being in St. Mark's district, 
where there are two school buildings, one a large stem structure on Vallej road, near the main entrant 1 
of Llewellyn Park, the Other in the Valley on Freeman street. The township is governed by a com- 
mittee "I live citizens, elected b\ the people each Spring, and known as the Township Committee. It has 
an excellent police force, but no fire department. 



ORANGE AND ITS POINTS OF INTEREST. 23 

The township contains within its limits several flourishing churches ; the oldest and the largest of 
these is St. Mark's Episcopal. This may be considered a daughter of Trinity Church, Newark. In the 
latter part of the last century, Benjamin Williams, a man noted for his independence of thought and 
action, his devout and godly life, as well as the sincerity of his religious convictions, felt it his duty to leave 
the Presbyterian Church, to which he had hitherto belonged, and connect himself with the Church of Eng- 
land. The nearest church of that body was Trinity, Newark, which was situated six miles distant from his 
home. Notwithstanding this, Mr. Williams, with his family, was in the habit of driving to Trinity Church 
every Sunday, for years. In the year 1S0S the Rev. Joseph Willard, Rector of Trinity Church, Newark, 




\ West ( >range R< >ad. 



reported to the Episcopal Convention of New Jersey, "that he had performed divine service and 
preached twice at Benjamin Williams's, Orange, where he had large and attentive congregations: that 
there were several families who appeared to be attached to the Episcopal Church, and who regularly at- 
tended at Newark." The families thus alluded to were those of Benjamin Williams and his sons. These fam- 
ilies continued under the care of Trinity Church, Newark, and were favored with occasional services until 
1810, when Bishop John Croes, the first Episcopal bishop of New Jersey, visited them, and continued 
from this time until his death, to include this neighborhood in his visitations. A portion of the house of 
Benjamin Williams, where the first service of the Episcopal Church was held, is still standing on Eagle 
Rock avenue, and is occupied by his descendants. In 1825 Orange was made a missionary station, and 
placed in charge of Rev. Benjamin Holmes, a missionary. The family of Caleb Harrison, also an 
influential resident of Orange, had joined the Episcopalians, and the little band of worshipers felt en- 
couraged to take steps for the formation of the parish On April 7. 1827, the parish of St. Mark's was 



2 4 ORANGE AND ITS POINTS OF INTEREST 

incorporated under the laws of the Stale. The corner stone of the Church edifice was laid 
Ma) 12, [828, and the Church was consecrated in 1829, but the venerable Benjamin Williams, 
its founder, did not live to see the fulfillment of his hopes, having died September 4, 1826. 
Rev. Mr. Holmes reported to the Diocesan Convention in 1829, that there were fifty-four 
families in the parish. Mr. Holmes was called as rector, but, having received a .similar call 
at the same time from St. Peter's Church, Morristown, he accepted the latter, and the Rev. 
William Rollinson Whittingham was called as the first rector. He took charge June 1, 1829. On 
November 1, 1831, lie resigned to give his whole attention to literary work connected with the Church. 
He afterwards became bishop of Maryland, and one of the foremost bishops in the Episcopal Church 
in America. He made his Summer home in St. Mark's parish, and died there October 17, 1879. His funeral 
was held in old St. Mark's and he is buried in its cemetery. On November 10, 1830, the vestry of St. 
Mark's called the Rev. Benjamin Holmes to be their rector. He accepted the appointment February 20, 
1831, ami soon after took chargeof the parish, but was not formally instituted until July 4, 1831. One of 
the first acts of the vestr) alter Mr. Holmes' institution was to build a tower on the church and procure a 
bell, and in September, 1S33, an organ was purchased. In 1834 a house and lot was purchased for a 
rectorv. This house and lot was sold two years later. Mr. Holmes died in 1836, deeply regretted by all 
his people, and beloved by the entire population. On his death the eyes of the congregation were turned 
to the Rev. James A. Williams, a grandson of the founder of the Church, who had just been ordained dea- 
con, and he was called to the rectorship. At his suggestion, however, the call was made but for si\ 
months, as he was young and without experience. He was formally called to the rectorship January 25. 
1837, and on September 9, of the same year, he was formally instituted by Bishop Doane. His chargeof 
the parish lasted forty-seven years, his death occurring September 2, 1883. He received the degree of D. 
1). from Columbia College during his incumbency. While he was rector, St. Mark's Church prospered 
greatly, and was three times enlarged, and from this Church have sprung directly or indirectly the follow- 
ing parishes, all of which are strong and vigorous: Grace, Orange; All Saints, Orange; Holy Innocents, 
West Orange: Christ, East Orange: Holy Communion, South Orange; St. Paul's, East Orange; Christ, 
Bloomfield, and St. Luke's, Monti lair. Dr. Williams' talents and great executive ability soon gave him a 
prominent position in the diocese, and for forty years he was President of its Standing Committee. St. 
Mark's church is and always has been one of the foremost parishes in the diocese, in point of parochial 
work, and contributions for missionary and benevolent objects, and its success is largely due to the earn- 
est, zealous and self-sacrificing labors of Dr. Williams, who possessed to a remarkable degree, the love, 
confidence and esteem, not only of his own people, but of the entire community. In 1884 the Rev. 
Bishop Falkner was called to the rectorship, and at once actively entered upon the duties, following the 
same wise and prudent course which had been pursued by his predecessor. In 1886 and 1887 the Church 
was again remodeled and enlarged. A new sanctuary and chancel were added, and a handsome altar and 
reredos of Caen stone were erected in memory of the Rev. Dr. Williams. At the same .time a handsome 
stained glass window was placed in the chancel, in memory of the late Bishop Whittingham, the first rector 
of the Church. This Church abounds in beautiful memorials of the departed; among them, the pulpit in 
memory of Rev. John Lee Watson, D. D., a former assistant, a beautiful font in memory of one of tin 
Wilmerding family, and several fine stained glass windows to commemorate departed parishioners. Under 
Mr. Falkner's administration, St Mark's has prospered greatly, and there are a number of flourishing so 
cieties connected with the parish. The Church also maintains a chapel on Washington street. 

Among other flourishing churches in West Orange are the St. Cloud Presbyterian Church, corner 
of Ridgeway and Mountain avenues; Church of the Holy Innocents, St. Cloud, Rev Charles S. Stocking, 
rector; the Second Valley Congregational Church, and the Pleasant Valley Germari Presbyterian Church. 

West Orange is more widely known as being the site of Llewellyn Park, than for anything else; 
indeed, it was this park which first gave a boom to the Oranges, and it has done more to introduce them 
to public notice than anything else. This park owes its existence to Llewellyn S. Haskell, a New York 
druggist, who came to Orange in 1855. Endowed with a keen love of nature, and a remarkably acute 
artistic perception, he saw at a glance the beauties and possibilities of the forests and glades of the moun- 
tain side, to make up one of the most beautiful parks that is to be found in the vicinity of New York. He 



ORANGE AND ITS POINTS OF INTEREST. 



25 



purchased from the various owners, their wooded tracts, rugged quarries and rolling farm lands, amount- 
ing in all to nearly eight hundred acres, which he proceeded to lay out in winding roads, romantic 
bridal paths, rustic rambles, cascades, lakes, flower gardens, lawns and attractive villa sites, the whole 
forming one grand landscape garden of rare poetic beauty. In fact, Llewellyn Park is a combination of 
rare genius and natural beauty. It belongs to the people who live in it, but the large-hearted and liberal- 
minded man who founded it, always while he controlled it, insisted that it should be open under proper 
restrictions to the public, at all times except on Sundays, and this policy has ever since been maintained. 
There is no sameness in the Park, either in its architecture, its landscape gardening, or its views. The 
roads are smooth and perfectly kept, and nearly all of them are paved with Telford. These avenues carry 
out the romance of the place in their names. Tulip avenue, Oak Bend, Wildwood avenue. Cliff avenue 
Mountain avenue, Glen avenue and Glenellyn, are all suggestive. 

The trees in Llewellyn Park are also a feature of this beauty spot of the Oranges. Many of them 
are old monarchs of the forest, that were standing when the Williamses and Harrisons bought the land 
of the Indians, for a few handfuls of gunpowder, some beads, brass buttons, blankets and rum. Others, 




Entrance to Llewellyn Park. • 

of course, are of more recent growth; others again were brought from distant lands by Mr. Haskell, and 
set out with his own hand. There are stately tulips, majestic oaks, waving maples, silvery beech, grace- 
ful linden, elm and oak, towering chestnuts, weeping willow, all forming one harmonious whole. Then, 
too, there are superb shrubs and flowers, which go still farther to enhance the beauty of the landscape. A 
life-size bust of Mr. Haskell stands upon a granite pedestal at the left hand side of the main entrance to 
the Park, and testifies alike to the worth of the man and the affectionate regard with which his name is 
cherished, not only by the dwellers in the Park that bears his honored name, but by the people of the 
Oranges generally. Among the elegant residences in this Park, are those of Thomas A. Edison, the 
great electrician, John Burke, David L. Wallace, D. A. Heald, President of the Home Insurance Com- 
pany, of New York, O. D. F. Munn, of the Scientific American, George J. Seabury, William Barr, Wen- 
dell Philips Garrison of the Evening Post, R. C. Browning and H. B. Auchincloss. 



OR l VGL l\/> rrS POINTS of INTEREST, 

*"° f ther P ° in ' ' lluded "' in thedrives ab ° u « ^Oranges, is Eagle Rock. It is worthy, 

™ wever >° a ™ l oreex ? endedn ^«^sformany years, long, in fact, before Llewelly^i Park was thought of 

" ' i view of the surrounding country, and tourists flocked to ii 

1 * onth - toi the First mountain, a short distance above the 

beth Newark R e rTt'°, * ' ^ '' f^ ' »*"> Clint °"' "e-ik, Elisa- 

beth Newark Bay, he Rills, Staten Island, th, N , -, n . New V:irk am , the 

K,V; T\ l ; i ; in " !l " r " b een Bloomfield, Montclair and Paterson, in the distance. 

which makl " ll '" ' ' " ' ' '""' Weste " stari °° » Orange, 

'" V" U V';" , " Cm PS ' ' hC ' " L ' ,mm the fart !, " : '' ' twocenturiesagoapfi 

ea f kS b t' ' "'"' T "' " ,; " < " * e l0ft > "'"" '" its t0 P' * «* entra r,ds a quaint, ivy-grow" 

ose style o< architecture belongs to the medieval period. It is the forme, Residence of Mr 
" lskell > nhl *e Rock, and is aptly called the Eyrie 

labor ™ e jr' ' "" '" WM ° range '" the scientist ' ,!l " electrician and the ihtol is the 

**ed Thomas A. Edison. It is visited weekly, and almost daily, by distinguished men 

,,:•;";' de aVenUe -. Th ' ! : ' «*•*«»] brick structures. The main one, which is 

,rectl y° nthe corner is an imposing edifice, thr. - in height. This contains on the first floor a 

magnificen hbrary which is finely finished in ash and oak, artistically carved. It s provided 

Jl ; " ld ak0 - S - b > *?* *e upper tiers of book shelve, are J bed, these shelves Tnntg 

! ", heceih f n g. -<' being filled with valuable works on electricity and kindred subjects. . 

°Pennre ature of this room. Near th ,tre of the library is Mr. Edison' private 

-trie call bells, and speaking tubes with all portions of the series of'bS 
| ol the hbrary, on the firs, floor, is the store room. This is a veritable museum, or, rather itisa 

"","■; ";""', ',", TT g ' ^^ n0n - mon ^ s sho P- d ™« "<™ e and tinware establishment In- 
deed ,t would be hard to mention any article that is not represented there. There are skins, hair horns 

hinte n , r m ° St ^^ kn ° WD d01UeStiC 3nd " ,d a " ima '' indudi "g tlIsks of eleph nts, hide of' 
rl mocerou and h.ppototamus, horn of antelope, antler of deer, shark's teeth, lama's wool and pecimen 
of many , .her beasts too numerous to mention. There are also, almost every known variety of /rain and 
■reals, fishes from all q„ trters of the globe, the rarest and most costly of drugs and chemicals ofeof -old 

:::;; o s! ,, : r - t t ,ier :; to °- may be found fl ° ur - s ^ ^ ^ «*« ™™*^ «SK 

Store a woll as a collection of iron and tinware of various sorts. The reason for this remarkable 
collection is that Mr. Edison ,s continually making experiments in all directions, and it is necessary for 

o use them. On the second story of this building are a number of small rooms, in which Mr. Edison's 

assistants are making experiments, conducting researches and completing work under his direction On 

"?e front part of the third story is a large hall, where tests are made of the phonograph, and exhibition" 

en of its wonders Back of this hail are small work rooms, and a well fitted up photograph gallery and 

room devoted to the d.splay ol Mr. Edison's inventions in the telegraph and telephone. 8 To the nor'.l of 

mam building ,s a long low, one-story brick structure, known as the galvenometer bui.ding. It s ed 

' h "" " , "; t ' lL ' " "' lst ™* f« measuring electric currents, and one peculfarity of he 

0PPe e r Nor th^f t, "1 IT^ " T ? ^ * * <*«™*». M ** "^ ^ andscrelstm 
opper North of this building are the chemical rooms, where experiments are made. In another 

portion of the grounds are the boiler and engine houses, forge, etc. A short distance east of the laboratory 
and just over the Orange line, is another cluster of brick and frame buildings, which form the Edison 
graph Works. Here all the cylinders for the phonographs made throughout the country afe pre 
pared, and here, too, are made the famous talking dolls. ' P 

DRIVES IN AND ABOUT THE ORANGES. 

hrnaH ?' 3 haVe l0 " s 1,een noted for their man y ^d attractive drive,, with fine paved road beds 

broad streets, romantic scenery, ever ■ , v.stas of hill and mountain, woodland and fields, wild and 

rock, mountain ledges, wrought into weird, fantastic shapes, by mighty convulsions of nature age. 



ORANGE AND ITS POINTS OF 7N7 EREST. 




The ( >i.n Mn. 



ago, in the throes of the world's creation, in one quarter alternate with stately mansions and charming villa 
sites, with well kept lawns and spacious grounds in the other. The streets are paved with Telford pave- 
ment and are as hard and smooth as a floor. Orange was the pioneer in adopting this pavement, which is 
now general throughout Essex County, and the credit of its introduction is due to Daniel Brennan, Jr., and 
George Spottiswoode. This pavement has all been paid for by the adjacent property owners. There are 
more than seventy-five miles of this pavement laid in the streets of the Oranges. Main street is the princi- 
ple thoroughfare of Orange and East 
Orange. It extends from the Newark 
city line in a westerly direction to 
Valley street, West Orange, and is 
really a continuation of Orange street, 
Newark. Its course is irregular, fol- 
lowing as it does the original old road 
of a century ago. From Prince street 
to Willow Hill, Main street proper, 
is 150 feet wide. On the south side of 
the street between these points, is a 
narrow strip of land, containing many 
handsome trees and dignified by the 
name of the Common. On the east 
side of the Common is South Main 
street, which joins Main street at each 
end of the Common. Main street is 
closely built up along its entire route, 
through both Orange and East Orange 
and on it are many elegant places. 
This street, however, is more of a 
business thoroughfare than a place of residence. On it are situated in the City of Orange, the 
First Presbyterian, North Baptist, Central Presbyterian, First Methodist and Grace Episcopal 
Churches, and in East Orange, the Brick Presbyterian, First Reformed, Christ Episcopal, 
Calvary Methodist, Munn Avenue Presbyterian and First Congregational Churches. Here, too, in both 
places are the banks, leading 
business houses and offices, the 
newspaper offices, and in 
Orange, Music Hall, the Ma- 
sonic Temple, the Young Men's 
Christian Association building, 
the Woman's Christian Temper- 
ance Union building and the 
Free Library. In East Orange 
are the People's Bank, and the 
Commonwealth building. Park 
avenue, which is 100 feet wide, 
and paved with Telford, ex- 
tends from Llewellyn Park en- 
trance, West Orange, easterly 
in an almost direct line to 
Hloomfield avenue, Newark, a 
distance of four miles. It is 
skirted by fine residences, and 
from the many hills over which 
it passes, fine \ iews may be 




An Old Homesti ad. 



28 



ORANGE AXD ITS POINTS OF INTEREST. 



str e^and Ivl ^ T2- , *«*>* at the intersection of Park — - *** and Washington 

I o oo ; t vi 1 7Tr a gh Street ' Park aVenUC and Pr0S P eCt street - Central avenue, »»««* - 

and East T" v °T "" ™* ^ Wert ° range ' in a drcuitous course «™»i Orange 

i; S ' r "° h f NeWark llne ' a » d the "« through that City to Broad street. It is also paved wifh 

o ° s,;"t ,nr; ' f mo t populardrives in Essex County - High - cemer - Harris ° n - *«*** ^ 

o ften r to 1 t ■' 7^' AB,0Bg ** ""» """^ drives to and around the 0ran S es - * is 

^f^^^ e T7^ toWfl,ere ^ a ^ & ^ tf,,ldriw, « SU ^ed by one who ail 
For \r, v I o n r a - reS ' dent ° f , the ^"^ and is ^miliar »M, every lane and by-path in Essex County. 

* n e thin Tumi 7 7 '7 ^ ""* l ° CaMr ' ""* S ° Uth ' Wto * the ,atter road int ° South Orange 
avenue, hen turning westwardly, cross the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad at South Orange 

half a ', it b ; i 7't7 7'^ ° n thJS thorou B hfare t0 the crest °f Ae mountain, and continuing about 
which Hem.ock Falls. Here digress from the road for a few moments to view the Falls, 

then Jo h r T 3 " a "7 Turmn S int0 South 0r ange avenue once more, proceed a short distance, and 
of St Cloud-H 1 ° n r a n° ad runnin S ba ck of the mountain ridge, pass through the beautiful settlement 

the residence o U 7 r°T S ? 7 ™ ° f ^ r ° ads g ° ing eaSt ' pass t0 the face of the ««»■*». and by 
one o tell I 7 7^ B " Wn ^ Ge ° rge V " Hecker ' °" the extreme < [d ^ Pause again to enjoy 

Oranle iU t T /To ' D *"" ^"^ "'"^ at y ° Uf feet ^ the *•»** of Wes * 

beZ fi^ „ J, e f ! a L SP,r f. ° f ° ,d S A" Mark ' sloomi "g -P '-fore you, beyond that is the City of Orange, and 
beyond that still farther, hes East Orange and Newark, the Oranges and Newark, looking from the height 
rh° e eaTvouTe .f^N-f the Passaic winds in and out like a silver 'thread," and looking ti 
he Brook n BriT ^J*"*""'*' ^ Ch >'' New Y ° rk - a " d off in the distance, the misty outlines of 
the Brooklyn Bridge Turn now your eye in another direction, and glance to your right there lies the 

Bel'd H 7'm 1USnUmber0fhat faCt0n ' eS ^ the h0 '» eS 0f * S P-I~ and^Ipp; op "to 
Beyond h,s he Montrose and South Orange, with their beautiful residences, and still farther way a Clm- 

id "s ^77 1 7f' and mthe S ° UtheaSt ' !n the diStanCe ' Ca " be *™ thehazv outlLofB . 
7 7 7°erty,.a nding on Bedloe's Island, and holding aloft her torch at the gateway of the 

:"77 |,0 ' n COmmg mi ' li0nS ° f tHe ° ,d W ° rld ' t0 freed0m ' ^ Ss and P-sperity. Look 

now to your left, a view of surpassmg beauty meets your eye. The country, which is a rolling one is far 

™zr ;:r q sr£ in any other - Here are to be - ™* — — - -,::::: 

cluster of brick buildings, a little 
north of St. Mark's Church, are 
the laboratory, electrical and pho- 
nograph works of Thomas A. Edi- 
son. That first little settlement 
beyond is Tory Corner, whose 
history dates back to the Revolu- 
tion; beyond this again lies Bloom- 
field and Montclair, studded with 
the country seats of New York's 
merchant princes. Leaving this 

superb view with reluctance, you 

follow the Ridge road down into 

Nonhfield avenue, take that avenue 

down around the turn at Bluebird 

corner, pass the residences of O. S. 

Cades and the Collamote family, 

the Country Club House, at Hut- 
ton Park, the Heckscher mansion, 

and the ^residence of Mr. S. O. 




A Park Residence. 



ORANGE AND ITS POINTS OF INTEREST. 



29 




In the Park. 



Rollinson, and come out on Valley road by St. Mark's Church, then go down Main street to the 
place of starting, or, if you desire a longer drive, go north up Valley road past St. Mark's Church, 
up to Lllewellyn Park entrance, but do not attempt to do the Park; that will keep for another drive 
turn down Park avenue, climb the steep hills, go down on the other side and keep on until Prospect street 

is reached, turn down Prospect 
street, and through that thorough- 
fare to Main street, and thence to 
the place of starting. 

For an afternoon ride the follow- 
ing is suggested. Take Main street 
to High, thence to Park avenue, 
and direct to Llewellyn Park en- 
trance on Valley road. Drive 
through the main gateway of the 
Park, take the centre one of the 
three roads, which is Glen avenue, 
follow this up around the turn by 
the quarry, continue up Park way, 
passing the elegant residence of 
Thomas A. Edison, which stands 
on the corner of Park way and 
Glen avenue, go on still up this 
road until Eagle Rock way is 
reached, turn to the latter road 
and drive past the residences of 
O. D. Munn and D. L. Wallace, stopping to admire the beautiful view which greets your eye at this 
point, pass through the park gate, take the road running under Eagle Rock, thence out to Bloomfield 
avenue, Montclair, follow the latter avenue up to Gould avenue, turn aside there and visit the Newark 
City Home,^an institution for the reformation of wayward boys and girls, then retrace your course to 
Bloomfield avenue, continue on through Verona and Caldwell to the County penitentiary, which is the 
model penal institution of New Jersey, and well worthy a visit, and having done that turn about, go down 
Bloomfield avenue to any one of 
the cross streets going towards 
Orange, and thence through Wash- 
ington, Park or Prospect street, 
back to the centre of Orange. 

Another charming drive is down 
Main street to Harrison, thence 
through that street, passing many 
of the handsomest residences in 
Orange, thence along South Orange 
avenue past Seton Hall College, 
thence into the Ridgewood road, 
thence into Luddington avenue, 
into Gregory avenue, and follow 
ing that thoroughfare, pass under 
the mountain, coming out on 
Mount Pleasant avenue, and enter- 
ing the gate of Llewellyn Park a 
short distance below, drive through 
Wildwood and Mountain avenues, 




View Near Bloomfield. 



ORANGE 1ND ITS POINTS Ol INTEREST. 



passing the residence of the Martin family, D. A. Heald, of the Home Insurance Co., Carthwood, the res- 
idence of Mr. Geo. J. Seabury, thence down Tulip avenue, passing the beautiful country sites of David 
Green and William liarr, and continuing down Tulip avenue to the main gate on Valley road, thence 
down Park avenue to Day street, and so back to the centre of the city. 

Another charming drive may be had by following Main street up to St. Mark's Church, thence tak- 
\ alley street and Eagle Rock avenue up to Eagle Rock, and there feast your eyes upon the mag- 
nificent panorama spread out before you. After leaving the Rock, follow any of the beautiful drives un- 
der the mountain, take a short trip through Montclair, and thence make your way back to Orange through 
Washington and Prospect streets. These drives can be multiplied in an almost endless variety by simply 
consulting a map of the Oranges 
and adjacent townships, for go in 
whatever direction you will in any 
ol the Oranges, you are sure to 
find romantic scenery, stately 
homes and magnificent road-beds 
on which to speed your horses. 

Do you desire a drive through 
the more rural part of the 
Oranges? If so, you will find 
much to interest and please you by 
going through the beautiful valley 
which lies between the First and 
Second mountains in West Orange. 
Starting from any point in Orange, 
drive up to St. Mark's church, 
West Orange, thence up Northfield 
avenue to Prospect avenue, fol- 
lowing that beautiful avenue in its 
winding course, passing on the 

way the unique and beautiful Summer residence of Dr. Bethuel L. Dodd, continue along Prospect 
ivenue until Eagle Rock avenue is reached, then follow the latter road down through that most 
lisiteof vales aptly named Pleasant Valley, passing on your way many picturesque and quaint old 
farm-houses, follow this road as far as the top of the Second mountain, thence make your way back along 
the mountain through Livingston, and so down Mount Pleasant avenue to West Orange, and then down 
Valley road home. 

MANUFACTORIES. 

Orange, though known chiefly as a city of elegant homes, is also, and always has been, a manufac- 
turing place of no small importance. It divides with Danbury, Connecticut, the prestige of being one of 
the chief centres of the felt hat industry, and for many years in its earlier days it rivaled Newark in the 
manufacture of fine boots and shoes. Of late years, however, this latter business has drifted away from 
Orange, and this industry is of comparatively small importance here. Two hundred years ago, when the 
early settlers arrived in Orange, the first industrial pursuit they were called upon to engage in was the 
clearing of small patches on which to erect their cabins and rear the crops for the support of themselves 
and their families. Looking arround them they saw dense forests of sturdy oaks, lofty pines, branching 
hemlocks, silvery beeches, and graceful ash and maple. The red men, peaceful and friendly, because 
dealt with in a spirit of honor and fairness, yet roamed the by-paths that led through the forest to the 
mountain top, or built their wigwams along the brooks that flowed through the grassy valleys below. Bears, 
foxes and wild animals ran at large where are now superb drives, crowded with fashionable turnouts. The 
clearing away of the timber became a source of profitable revenue to the pioneer settlers, as they found a 




On i hi Canal, Ni ak Bloomfield. 



ORANGE AND ITS POINTS OF INTER1 31 

ready market for staves and headings in Newark and New York. The purchasers were sloop owners sail- 
ing between those ports and the West Indies, the staves and headings being converted into sugar and 
molasses hogsheads. The demand for these articles led to the establishment of sawmills. The pioneer 
sawmill, as nearly as can be ascertained, was erected on Wigwam brook in 1728, by Samuel Harrison, a 
son of one of the original settlers. It stood about sixty rods north of the residence of the late Judge 
Jesse Williams, on the corner of Day and Washington streets. Mathew Williams, also a descendent of 
one of the first settlers, built a sawmill still further up the Wigwam brook, and later on two of his descend- 
ants, Samuel and Amos Williams, constructed a tannery on the same brook. This tannery was for many 
years one of the leading establishments of the kind in the country. John Condit also built a small tannery 
and shoe shop near where St. Mark's Church stands. All of these, however, were long ago abandoned and 
tanneries have become a thing of the past in Orange. The first grist mill in Orange was built in 17S0, on 
the site now occupied by the old stone mill building of the late Judge Jesse Williams. The original 
structure was a frame one, and the present stone walls were built around the old mill in 1840. During 
the last quarter of the last century, Col. John Condit built a paper mill on Wigwam brook, about half a 
mile above where the Day street bridge now is. The manufacture of fur hats was established in 1785 or 
1 790. James Condit was the pioneer hatter of the place ; his shop was on Parrow brook, on the line of what 
is now Centre street. Previous to 1840 the hatting industry was one of relatively small importance, but 
from that time on it continued to grow, although it is only of late 5 ears that it has developed to its pres- 
ent large proportions. There are now about thirty-five firms and companies engaged in the manu- 
facture of hats in the Oranges, employing about two thousand hands, and paying out on an average $20,000 
weekly for wages. 

ORANGE SEWERAGE. 

During the past summer, Carroll Ph. Bassett, C. E , of Newark, presented to the Common Council 
a comprehensive report on a proposed sewerage system for the city, with full plans, profiles and specifi- 
cations. The recommendations of this report have been endorsed by Messrs. Stearns &: Gray, consult- 
ing engineers, employed by the city, and approved by a Citizens' Committee of uncommon ability, after 
careful examination. In view of these facts, it seems probable that the system, as planned by Mr. Bas- 
sett, will be constructed in the near future. 

Some description of the plan will therefore be of interest. It is proposed to collect storm water 
and household wastes separately. In every street will be laid a pipe sewer to receive all household and 
manufacturing wastes. In some cases roof water will be taken into these lines. 

Wherever storm water accumulates on the surface in sufficient quantities to cause damage or incon- 
venience, it is taken into underground conduits leading to the main drainage channels, where the filthy 
brooks now run (which are also to go under ground), and eventually go to the west branch of the Second 
river, leaving the city near E. Day and River streets, and flowing to the Passaic, or to the east branch 
of the Rahway, leaving the city near Montrose, and flowing through South Orange, etc., to Rahway. 

Wherever the ground is wet or swampy, drains will belaid in the trenches with the sewers, and dis- 
charged into the storm water conduits. 

Although the surface water flows in opposite directions, as stated above, it is proposed to collect all 
the sewage proper to one point in the northeastern section of the city. This is accomplished by an in- 
tercepting sewer, along Scotland street, running opposite to the surface grade and leading through West 
Orange to Lakeside avenue, and thence to River and East Day. 

The "Valley " section below Scotland street, is collected at a pumping station near Morris and 
Valley streets, and pumped into the Scotland street sewer just mentioned. The total area of the city is 
about 1,400 acres and the district to be pumped is less than 240 acres. The house sewers vary in size, 
from eight inches to twenty-four inches in diameter. The storm sewers increase from twelve inches to 
ten feet three inches in diameter. 

The effect of the storm- water system will be to obliterate the unsightly brooks from the surface, 
reclaim much waste land in the heart of the city, and make it productive property and materially lower 
the level of ground-water throughout the city, thereby increasing its healthfulness. 



V 



ORANGE AND ITS POINTS OF INTEREST. 








The New Bank Building. 



Orange National Bank, Main Street, near Cone, Orange, 
N. J. The Orange National Bank is certainly one of the best 
known institutions of any kind in this section of the country, not 
only from its having been established so many years ago, but for 
the most important of all reasons, that it is as thoroughly sound 
and reliable a financial institution as can be found in this neigh- 
borhood. The bank was chartered as a State institution as far 
back as 1S28, and in 1S65 it was reorganized as a National Bank. 
During considerably more than half a century it has held a high 
position among the foremost institutions of a like nature in the 
State, maintaining its steady, even way through revolutions and 
changes of many kinds. This is due to the conservative policy 



pursued by the directors and officers of the bank, who have ever 
made ,t their chief interest to preserve the high credit of the bank 
ummpa.red. The names of these gentlemen are as follows- 
Directors : T. J. Smith, president ; J. W. Smith, cashier • Elias 
O. Doremus, John L. Blake. James Peck, Charles M Decker 
Josiah F. Dodd, Charles Williams, Abijah F. Tillon The bank 
has a capital of $.50,000, and a surplus of $.75,000, with total 
assetsof nearly a million and a half of dollars, and enioys the most 
favorable relations will, other companies throughout the country 
The building occupied is situated next to the corner of Main and 
Cone streets, in a very central position, and when finished will be 
the business building of the Oranges. 




•South Orange, From the Valley Road. 



SOUTH ORANGE. 



The history of South Orange as a locality, dates back to a period long anterior to the date of its 
organization as a township. Indeed there never has been the close affiliation between South Orange and 
the other Oranges, that has always existed between the three other Oranges with each other, the people of 
South Orange having as a rule been identified more with Newark. The place was originally settled by 
some of the pioneers of Newark. Exactly how the name of South Orange originated is not known, but 
tradition has it that Nathan Squier, an old resident of South Orange, first used it at a sale of wood at ven- 
due. Among the old settlers are the Kilburns, Heddens, Lindsleys, Baldwins, Smiths, Cranes and Balls. 
The town was incorporated in i860. One of the first records in reference to roads in the vicinity of South 
Orange, is found in the proceedings of the town meeting of Orange, where reference is made under the 
date of October 8, 1705, to the laying out of a road from what is now Main street, Orange, "south by a 
line of marked trees to Joseph Riggs' house;" this was, undoubtedly, what is now called Valley street in 
Orange and West Orange, and the Ridgewood road in South Orange. In the records in the same date, 
reference is made to the laying out of "another road from said Riggs' to town, to run by a path as straight 
as may be, and by a line of marked trees from the first mentioned road, north at the foot of said moun- 
tain." The road referred to is now South Orange avenue. As early as 171S, Or. Arents and Daniel Dod 
carried on a saw-mill on the Railway river. Joseph Pierson's two mills, a saw-mill and a grist-mill, were 
well known institutions in 1740, and there was also a saw-mill located near where the Mountain station 
now stands. 

The educational history of South Orange dates back as far as 1787, for records are still extant of 
repairs upon a school-house in that place. One of the items charged for in the bill of repairs is one quart 



34 



SOUTH ORANGL AND ITS POINTS OF INTEREST. 



of rum, one shilling, and one quart of spirits, one shilling. Various charges seem to indicate that it was 
one for repairs. In fact, old residents of South Orange have had it from their ancestors that they attended 
school in a stone building on a point of land near the intersection of what are now known as South 
Orange and Irvington avenues. The records of the Columbian school date back to 1814, when the school 
was incorporated. The price of tuition in the school was fixed at $1.75 per quarter, with an additional 




Ora.ni. 1 Mountains, From Scotland Street. 



charge of 25 cents for arithmetic and an additional 25 cents for grammar, and scholars were also charged 
for firewood. The school was not made absolutely free until many years later. At present there are sev- 
eral flourishing schools in the place. 

The most noted educational institution in South Orange is Seton Mall College and Seminary, which 
is one of the most widely known institutions of learning conducted by the Roman Catholic Church in 
America. It is located upon a commanding site facing the mountain on South Orange avenue and the cor- 
nice on which it stands being formerly known as Chestnut Ridge. The college buildings stand some dis- 
tance back from the avenue in the midst of spacious and well kept grounds, and are reached by a broad 
and winding driveway flanked on either side by a double row of noble trees. The visitor to the college 
enters a handsome three-story basement building of brown stone, through which broad corridors run east 
and west and north and south. This is the residence of Bishop Wigger, and is also the Seminary build- 
ing. Behind that is Alumni Hall, a beautiful stone structure two stories high in the gothic order of archi- 
tecture. This building was the gift of the Alumni of the college. The dormitories and class-rooms are 
situated in an L-shaped building connected with the main building. The dormitory and class-room build- 
ing is also three stories and basement high, and has a handsome turret on one end. Here it is that the col- 



SOUTH ORANGE AND JTS POINTS OF INTEREST. 



.55 



lege proper is located. The Seton Hall Chapel is also a beautiful stone structure in the pointed style of 
architecture. Its sanctuary, choir and high altar are very beautiful. There are also many elegant stained 
glass windows as well as memorial panes erected in memory of departed students. 

The infirmary of the college is situated in a stone building three stories high of a similar style of archi- 
tecture to the rest of the college edifices. The college was founded in 1856, bv the Right Rev. James 
Roosevelt Bayley, D. D., the first Bishop of Newark and afterwards Archbishop of Baltimore, and pri- 
mate of the United States. It was first located at Madison, in Morris County, where there is now a large 
Academy for girls, but it was transferred during the summer of i860, to its present site in South Orange. 
In 1 86 1, it was incorporated by the Legislature, who granted it all the rights and privileges enjoyed by 
other colleges in the State. The college was named Seton Hall by Bishop Bayley, in honor of his aunt, 
the Saintly Mother Seton, who introduced the Sisters of Charity into the United States, and to whose 
prayers Bishop Bayley attributed his conversion to the Catholic faith. Bishop Bayley was succeeded as 
President of Seton Hall by the Rev. Dr. Michael Augustine Corrigan, who afterwards became Bishop of 
Newark, and is now the beloved Archibishop of New York. The Archibishop still retains his interest in 
the college, and is a frequent visitor there. Archbishop Corrigan was succeeded as President by his 
brother, the Rev. James Corrigan, and he in turn by Rev. Father Marshall, the present incumbent. Every 
year a large class of graduates is sent forth from the college, many of the alumni holding important 
positions in civil and religious life. The seminary also turns out a number of priests and deacons each 
year. Bishop Wigger, who succeeded Archbishop Corrigan as Bishop of Newark, resides at the college, 
and takes a lively interest in its welfare. 

South Orange is well supplied with churches, and many of them are handsome edifices, and all have 
prosperous and active congregations. The strongest Church in the place is the First Congregational 
Church, which was organized in 1831, although the Presbyterians had always been very numerous in that 
neighborhood years before. The church was built in 1842, and dedicated in August of the same year. 
A few years before, it was entirely rebuilt and replaced by the present handsome structure. 

The earlier churches of the Baptist denomination were at Lyons Farms and Jefferson village, both 
within the limits of South Orange. The records of the Jefferson Village Baptist Church date back to (81 r, 
but about 1823 their building was sold to the Methodists. The present Methodist church, however, was 
not organized until 1848. The present beautiful edifice of the Methodist Church, which is in the Gothic 
style of architecture, with a handsome spire eighty feet high, was built in 1874. The Methodists have 
also a flourishing church at Maplewood, a growing settlement within the limits of South Orange. 

The Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion was organized in 1859, as an offshoot from St. 
Mark's, Orange. The present beautiful edifice, which stands on South Orange avenue, just west of the 
railroad station, as the avenue begins to ascend the mountain side, was built in i860 and 1861. It was en 
larged in 1874. It is in the English gothic style of architecture and is cruciform in shape, with a beautiful 
apsidal chancel. 

The Roman Catholics have also a handsome church in South Orange, in addition to the college 
chapel, where for many years the Catholics of the entire place were wont to assemble. 

About a year ago the South Orange village authorities, made an effort to secure from Orange, an 
agreement for a term of years, for the purchase of water to be drawn from the main pipe leading from the 
Orange reservoir west of the mountain, through the village of South Orange, to the city of Orange. The 
effort was not successful. About the same time the Commonwealth Water Company of Newark had 
erected and put in operation a plant in Summit, to supply that township with water, for domestic and 
manufacturing purposes, and fire protection. The character of the water there furnished was pronounced 
of remarkable excellence by the citizens of Summit, and expert analysts. It is said to be the purest pub- 
lic supply in the State. Negotiations were opened by the authorities of South Orange, for the introduc- 
tion of this water into South Orange. Last August, a contract between the Commonwealth Water Com- 
pany and the village of South Orange was signed. By the terms of this contract, the village is to build its 
own system of distributing mains in the streets of the village, and into these pipes the Commonwealth 
Water Company is to deliver water at a pressure equivalent to 375 feet above tide, and to furnish at the 
rate of 1,000,000 gallons per day if required. The price to be paid the company is ten cents per thcus- 
and gallons. The contract is for six years, with renewal clauses for five years additional. 




Main Street, m vk Brick Church. 

EAST ORANGE. 

The Township of East Orange, which is one of the most prosperous and enterprising municipali- 
ties in the County of Essex, contains only about four square miles of land, yet its population increases, 
as appears by the census of 1890. Its streets are well built up with handsome residences, as well as 
with imposing business structures, and it has the appearance of a thriving suburban city, which, in fact, it 
is. Its streets are all paved with Telford pavement and lighted with gas, and sewers are laid in nearly all 
<>! them. There are excellent police and fire departments, and the public schools of the town are admit- 
ted to be the finest in the State. Few regions have within the last thirty years exhibited such complete 
ges in social and material aspects, as has the vigorous and progressive township of East Orange. 
Thirty years ago the beautiful streets known now as Arlington avenue and Grove street, were then known 
as Cherry street and Whiskey lane. Both were narrow, dark roadways that were mudholes in the Winter 
and in time of rain, and in Summer were inches deep in dust. The houses on both of these avenues, as 
well as on Munn avenue, all of which are filled now with elegant residences, then had nothing but farm 
houses upon them, and these were few and far between. Even after the fame of Llewellyn Park and the 
beautiful scenery around the Oranges began to draw people from New York to Orange, East Orange cb'd 
not feel the effects of the boom to anything like the extent of either Orange or South Orange. It is onh 
within the last twenty years that the influx of population has been so marked. Now, however, East Or- 
ange is growing in a much greater ratio than any of the other Oranges in population and wealth, as well 
as in local improvements ; in fact, it is often called the banner township of Essex County. 



EAST ORANGE AND ITS POINTS OF INTERES T. 57 

The history of East Orange as a separate municipality dates only from March, 1863. Prior to that 
time it formed a part of the town of Orange. The setting off East Orange into a separate township was 
largely due to the school troubles in the latter place, allusion to which has been made in the histor 
Orange. The act incorporating the township of East Orange was passed by the Legislature March 4, 
1863. The first election of township officers was held on the second Monday of April, 1 




Munn Avenue, near Central Avenue. 

East Orange is a city of homes. Its well paved and well lighted streets, its admirable system of 
water supply and sewerage, together with its natural advantages, render it one of the most desirable 
places of residence in Northern New Jersey, and there is no town in this part of the State that contains 
so many elegant residences of wealthy and prominent New York business men, as does East Orange- 
The township has also an excellent police 1 force, which was organized six years ago. It is under the 
command of Henry Blaurock, Chief, v/ho has under him two sergeants, two roundsmen, fifteen patrol- 
men and three chancemen. This force maintains excellent order in the town, both day and night. 
Disturbances of any kind are very infrequent, and burglaries are few and far between. The township 
has also a fine fire department, under the command of Chief Engineer Henry Mills. It consists of a 
hook and ladder company, three hose carriage companies and two hose wagon companies. 



EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES. 

In the matter of education, East Orange occupies a position second to no other place in the 
State. The public school system, though, as a matter of course, not so extensive as that of the city of 
Newark, and not having as yet a high school in name, still, as far as it goes, is fully equal to that of any of 
the grammar schools in the latter city, and indeed, in some respects, surpasses the Newaik grammar 
schools, the thoroughness and comprehensiveness of the curriculum, and in many branches the schools of 
East Orange are fully equal to a high school. A Board of Education has been formed in the township, 
and a high school will soon be established there. At present the township is divided into three school 
districts ; the Ashland, Eastern, and Franklin. The lines of the three districts correspond very nearly with 
those of the school districts organized under the old school law, and)also with those of neighborhood organu 
za'ions that were in existence before any systematic foundation of school districts was effected. The 
"Act to Incorporate Societies for the Promotion of Learning " passed by the Legislature of New Jersey 
November 27, 1794, furnished the occasion and provided the means for the creation of three school dis- 
tricts in the section of country now embraced in East Orange, the boundaries of these districts being 
nearly the same as those of the now existing districts. The three school-houses first erected as the East 






6 



ORANGE AND TTS POINTS (>/■ INTEREST. 




The New High School Building. (In process of erection). 

em, which stood in the district bearing its name, the White school-house located at Brick Church, in which 
is now in the Ashland District, and the third known as the Doddtown school-house, in what is now the 
Franklin District. From the original book of minutes relating to the Eastern District, it is learned that 
the money to buy the lot and build the school-house was raised by a number of subscriptions, the subscrib- 
ers being stockholders. In addition to the names of all the old families in the vicinity, the names of 
such distinguished Newarkers as the Frelinghuysens, Penningtons and Whiteheads, appear among the sub- 
scribers. 

The government was vested in a board of seven trustees, chosen annually by the stockholders. 
These trustees held title to the property and managed all the affairs of the school. These same remarks 
•will apply to the other two districts. These schools were of course small affairs, employing but a single 
teacher, but they served an excellent purpose. Gradually, as the population increased, additional teachers 
were engaged, and larger buildings were erected, although up to 1870 all three schools were located in 
frame buildings. The old school districts had in the mean time given way to districts organized under 
the general school law of the State, retaining the old names and the old boundaries. The school houses in 
the township are now all large and substantial brick structures, supplied with all the modern improve- 
ments, admirably lighted and ventilated, surrounded by ample grounds, and provided with the most im- 
proved school apparatus, and furnished with valuable reference libraries. The Eastern District school 
house is situated on Main street, near Maple avenue. It stands some distance back from the street, and 
has a large play-ground around it. It is a three-story brick structure, built in 1S70, and enlarged several 
timessince that date. The principal, Mr. Vernon L. Davey, has been in charge since 1877. The Ash- 
land district has two school houses, known as the Ashland and South Ashland. The former is situated 



EAST ORANGE AND ITS POINTS OF INTEREST. 



39 




on Mulberry street, and the latter on Clinton street. Both buildings are imposing brick structures, and 
have every convenience for pupils and teachers. Mr. E. R. Pennoyer is the principal of both schools, 
and has held that position since 1S69. The Franklin school district has a large'brick building on Dodd 
street, between Midland and Glenwood avenues. It was built in 1873, and is valued at about $25,000. 
In addition to these public schools, there are also several flourishing private schools. 

EAST ORAHGE WATER SUPPLY. 
The township of East Orange has an abundant supply of pure water for both household and fire 

purposes. The supply is furnished 
by the Orange Water Company, 
under a contract made with the 
Township Committee in 1881 for 
a term of ten years, with the privi- 
lege on the part of the township 
authorities of renewing the same. 
The Orange Water ^Company was 
incorporated by an act of the 
Legislature in 1865, and was de- 
signed to supply the city of Orange 
with water, but the citizens of 
that place were not ready to move 
in the matter at that time, and it 
was not until December, 1880, that 
any use was made of the charter. 
Then the books for subscription 
to the stock of the company were 
opened, and almost immediately 
the capital of $300,000 was paid 
in, the majority of the stock 
being taken by citizens of East 
Orange. The company was immediately organized, and steps were taken to provide a water supply for 
East Orange. The first Board of Directors consisted of Frederick M. Shepard, John M. Randall, Joseph 
A. Minott, John T. Rockwell, Jos- 
eph L. Munn, William Pierson, M. 
D., and Vernon L. Davey. The 
Directors organized by electing 
Frederick M. Shepard, President ; 
John M. Randall, Vice-President ; 
Frederick M. Shepard, Jr., Secre- 
tary ; Joseph A. Minott, Tieas- 
urer, and Joseph L. Munn, Coun- 
sel. The company acquired by 
purchase and condemnation a tract 
of about seventy-five acres of land, 
at a point where the townships of 
Orange and East Orange, Bloom - 
field and the city of Newark came 
together. This tract contains a 
large number of springs of remark- 
ably pure water. One of them, 
known as "the great boiling spring," 
has been noted for its fine water 
from the earliest history of Es- 



A Residence on Prospect Street. 




Prospect Street, near P<>m> Street. 



40 



EA. OR,... GE AND I TS POIN TS OF IN TER ES I 



sex County. In developing these springs the water company has constructed a series of three wells. The 
largest of these is fifty feet in diameter, and is excavated to the depth of about fifteen feet below the sur- 
face of the nid, nine feet of which depth was blasted through a bed of red sandstone rock. It was in- 
tended to make the excavation much deeper, but the flow of water was so great as to render it practii 
""Possible. The water from these wells has been several times subjected to chemical analysis, and found 
rel) tree from all organic impurities. In fact, East Orange is conceded by all experts' on the 
jectofwater supply to have the finest water of air) place in the State of New Jersey. The pum 
tion is located on the same trad as the wells, and distribution is made through the mains bj d 

pumping, the 
pressure be in- 
sufficient to fo 
a stream through 
hose i onne 
with an) hydrant 
in East Ora 
or Bloomfi Id 
over the high si 




Mk 



I A-\ 




On Prospe< i St. 

building in either town. 
It In i been shown by 
actual experiment, that 
h\^ Streams can be sim- 
ultaneously t lllSMl h 

over the roof of the 
loftiesl structure in 
eiili r town. In [S83, 
thel >range Water ( lom- 
. took .1 1 ontract 
to supply the township 
of Bloomfield with 
water. It now has 




se\,,ai nubs of water mains laid in East Orange and Bloomfield, with hydrants 
imers in the former plai e is very large. 



Corner Arlington vnd Park Avenues. 

The number of priv; te 



EAST ORAHGE CHURCHES. 

The oldest Church in East Orange, is what is usually known as the Brick Presbyterian Church On 
the 20th of March, 1830, a meeting of Presbyterians residing in the eastern part of Orange, was held in the 
old White school-house, . .e into consideration the building of a Presbyterian Church, for the benefit o* 
the restdents of that locality. After a full discussion, a resolution was adopted, 'That it is the sense of 
this meeting that the time has arrived when it is expedient to erect a second Presbyterian Church in 
Orange, and thai we proceed to build without delay." A society was formed, trustees were elected and 



EAST ORANGE AND ITS POINTS OF INTEREST. 



4« 



the building nearly completed before the final organization of the Church. The first trustees were elected 
April 20, 1830. A building committee was appointed on the same evening, and at the same time Rev- 
George Pierson was called as pastor. He entered upon his duties in April, 1831, and continued until 
February, 1835. The Church was finally organized April 26,1831. At this meeting forty-eight persons 
were present with letters of dismissal from other churches. The Church edifice was erected in 1832. 

It was built of brick, and was for many years the only church edifice in the Oranges that was con- 
structed of this material, hence the name of the Brick Church was given to it, and this Church has always 
been a landmark in this part of Orange. Years ago, when the old Morris & Essex Railroad Company es- 
tablished nearly opposite the Church, they gave to the new station the name of Brick Church, and that 
name has clung to it and to the neighborhood ever since. This Church during the civil war, had a most 
enviable record for the patriotism of its pastor and its people, and many stirring sermons were heard from 
its pulpit on the duty of upholding the national government, and many of its members went forth to de- 
fend their country's honor on the battlefield. In > 
the Summer of 1878, the church edifice was en- 
tirely remodeled at an expense of $18,000. It was 4e= 
again remodeled and put in its present shape at a || 



cost of $25,000 in 
Rev. Henry F. 
Hickock, D. D., 
who has been in 
charge since May, 
1875. The pres- 
ent membership 
of the Church is 
120. 

The Munn 
Avenue Presby- 
terian Church, 
which is situated 
on the corner of 
Main street and 
Munn avenue, is 
one of the most 
flourishing Churches in 
in the neighborhood in 







% 



B 



[ONVEALTH 1 1 A II 



l.\i ( )range Depot. 



East Orange. It had its origin in a Sabbath School, which was started 
1824. The sessions of the school were at first held in the houses of 
those favorable to the project, and continued to be so held until 1830, when the old Eastern 
school-house was built, and the Sunday school services were transferred to that, meanwhile weekly 
prayer meetings were held in the neighborhood, and on June 24, 1863, the Church was formally organ- 
ized with a membership of thirty-seven. During the same year a church edifice was erected. This was 
replaced by a handsome brown stone structure in the Gothic style of architecture, in 1876. The church 
was altered and enlarged in 1888. 

The Bethel Presbyterian Church on Dodd street had its origin in a Union Sabbath school, « 
was held for several years previous to 1866, in the old school-House on Dodd street. In that year a little 
frame chapel was erected and the Sabbath school was held in that building. There was occasional pre 
ing there, but no regular Church organization until 1868, when a Congregational mission was started. This 
led to a bitter controversy, the result of which was that the chapel was afterwards transferred to the 
Presbyterians. Another contest followed, this time being carried into court. The Presbyterians were \ ic- 
torious, and On November 3, 1870, Bethel Presbyterian Church was organ!/.. i The Church is now 1 
very flourishing condition and has a large membership. 

The First Reformed Church, though among the youngest in East Orange, was organized by t, 



t- EAST ORANGE AND ITS POINTS OF INTEREST. 

Classis ol Newark, Ma) . .-, 1875, at which time it numbered 135 communicants. The Church had its be- 
ginning in the fact that the Rev. George S. Bishop, D. D., became convinced while pastor of the Brick Pres- 
byterian Church that it was his duty to preach strong Calvanistic doctrine, which was distasteful to many 
members of that Church. He finally determined to connect himself with the Reformed Church, and in 
April, 1875, resigned the pastorate of the Brick Church, left the Presbyterian denomination and con- 
nected himself with the Reformed. He was followed by a large number of people from his former 
charge and as soon as the Church was organized was made its pastor and lias continued in charge ever 
since. The Church edifice was erected in 187O. It is situated corner Main and Halsted streets, and is 
built of brown stone in the Gothic style of architecture, and is cruciform in shape. It has a beautiful 
spire at one of the angles. 




Christ Church, Corner Main and Mulford Streets. 

(Now in process of erection.) 

The new Christ Church, now rapidly approaching completion, on the corner of Main and Mul- 
ford streets, East Orange, will be one of the most beautiful church edifices in the State. The parish 
dates back to 1869, a meeting having been called for the purpose of organization, by a few Episcopa- 
lians, which was held in the old railway station, on the site of the present Commonwealth Hall. Divine 
service was hel 1, and organization completed by the election ol wardens and vestrymen, and the adop- 
ti of a name for the parish, which it now retains. Plans for a church were soon considered, and in 
the following year a frame building 33x60 feet was erected. East Orange and the parish grew so rap- 
idly that the original . imivh was enlarged five times, but was totally destroyed by tire December 23, 
t888. Before the building of the original church the present rector, the Rev. Horace S. Bishop, S. T. IX, 
ed his gratuitous services as minister in charge, which were gratefull) accepted by the parish] 
and a few years later he was regularly called as rector, which position he has since held. The result of 
his labors may be seen in the strong parish and beautiful church now building. He is ably as- 
tsted b) the Rev. Alexander Allen, late dean of one of the convocations of Colorado. On the day of 



EAST ORANGE AND ITS POINTS OF INTEREST. 



43 




Resihenci on Arlington Avenue. 



the burning of the old church, the vestry resolved to erect a new one of stone, complete in its appoint- 
ments, worthy of East Orange and of its sacred purposes. 

The building is substantially constructed of Indiana limestone, and will cost, furnished, about 
$100,000, and includes in its plan all the arrangements necessary for parish work, such as chapel, guild, 

choir and vestry rooms. An or- 
gan valued at $10,000 is being 
constructed for the Church. The 
pews and interior woodwork are 
of quartered oak. The chancel 
is forty feet wide by the same 
depth, and will be particularly 
rich in its furnishings. The altar 
and wains-cotting will be of 
Sienna marble, the chancel rail 
will also be of marble, while the 
floor will be laid 111 Mosaic mar- 
ble pavement ; the choir stalls 
and clergy seats will be of an- 
tique quartered oak. The pulpit, 
lecturn, font and other furnish- 
ings are to be of most beautiful 
design, and the windows will be 
glazed with Cathedral glass of 
such tone as will cast a golden 
light on the entire interior. The 
buildings are heated by steam, 
and suitably ventilated, and all sanitary points have been thoroughly considered. The front, including 
tower is about one hundred feet, by nearly two hundred feet in depth. 

The Grove Street Congregational Church was organized in the early Summer of 1866, when a few 
persons assembled at the house of Aaron P. Mitchell, on Grove street, to discuss the feasibility of form- 
ing a Congregational Church. It was decided to organize such a Church, and to erect a suitable building. 
A lot on the north-east corner of Main and Grove streets was purchased, the propert.es of the new 
society, with wise forethought securing ample room for the enlargement of the church, if necessary. I he 
society was formally organized August 1, 1866, and the erection of the chapel was begun In December, 
l8 6 7 a handsome brown stone edifice was completed, at a cost of $ I5 ,°°°. It was dedicated December 
i8, 1867. On January 3, 1868, the organization of the Church was completed, with thirty-two members. 
In the Spring of 1871, an addition was made to the church at a cost of $5,000. In the Spring of 1890, 
the present beautiful church edifice was erected, at a cost of $ S °,°°°- The former church edifice is now 
used as a chapel and Sunday school room. . ,„,,.. , ;„ 

Calvary Methodist Episcopal Church, which stands on the corner of Mam and Walnut streets, . 
one of the most imposing religious edifices in any of the Oranges. Its congregation is one of the largest 
and most active in the Methodist denomination in Essex county, and the people are noted for _ the, 
liberal contributions to every denominational, missionary and benevolent purpose. 1 he Chu c .was 
organized in the fall of l8 6 9 , when a board of trustees was elected, a site for a building secur d and A 
erection of a chapel begun on Mulberry street. The building, which was of ^' C ^j ' g s " t bec^ 
trimmings was dedicated June 12, 1870. The Church continued to grow rapidly, and in 18S4 it became 
evident ttt more room must be had, and the present site on Main and Walnut streets was purchased 
for $13,000. The present beautiful church building was completed m 1887. ....„ 

St. Paul's Episcopal Church grew out of cottage services started in that por, on of Eas Orange 
known as Watsessing, in x86 9 , by Rev. William H. Carter, D. Dm the residence Isaac K G nffin. A 
chanel was erected in Myrtle street soon after, and was opened for service by Dr. Carter January 30, 



44 EAST OR INGE AND ITS POINTS OF INTEREST. 

,S7 °' [ " theS P ri "g° f '875 the lot on which the chapel stood was sold and the chapel was removed to 
": f " D ° dd street . when ft »« considerably enlarged and improved. On Easter 

JK ^'"" ''" "' "' : ' P^dent parish, this organization having heretofore' 

beenam.ssion. I tn.zation m ted November 17, 1876, and the parish of St P 

was admitted into union with the Diocesan Convention. November 22, 1 

THE EAST ORAHGE SEWERAGE SYSTEM. 

The following description of the sewerage system ol East Orange, is taken from a report of Mr 
< arroll I Bassett, the engineer who designed it. to the State Board of Health ■ 

. ™ h K en thetownshi P '" ' »t Orange began discussion 0! ilabl system, of sewage removal 

' mth a l"-" 1 ' 1 ^ altogether ,„•, in municipal development in this 

a ' ""'" !1 "» '"" " :e, due to topographical peculiarities, existed, but 

these problems were almost forgotten in a search for a satisfa, tor, outfall tor the collected domesti, and 
manufacturing wastes. 

1 l,N X :" South Orange and Bloomfield, supplied with excellent water, and 

P<" nth manj substantial Telford pavements, East Orange was enjoying an , 

Z7 S /"I Tl° P ^ But every rise in the wave of municipal prosperity mad, more 

urgent the removal ol voided and discarded wastes, 

":"\ T" **" ' b ' m P lished? Where were they to be dis. harged ? rhese were the questions 

P r r o ° P P"' ' i >l,Ml< meetin S' an ' — ' times to committees in power during the Winters 

' * 3 ";"•., "' of Newark on red possible outlet to th, river. Pumping 

overthehl S h "d . md thence to the Newark b , een Newark and Elizabeth was 

2 f?fj "°1 r^ r ., purification of the sewage were presented. To the firs, pro 
Newark through a Common Council committee, said, emphatically, no! ^ „ t Newark was of 

I 1 "'' ^vmg sumcien. trouble in the water supply without accepting contril rom beyond Us 

lm,tS V ' ^ liberal subs,d. Pumping to Newark baj involved eight or nine miles of conduit out- 

5,de '" ! oss sev j eral minicipalities, besides the heavy current expen.es of pumping and 

m 7 tenanc e. f ghta ol way and leg tl complications, added obj, ctions to this plan. Argument, discussion 
an<l mvestigation seemed equall) to favor some method of local disposal of the sewa 
, , /' hC SCWa f e entCTS "^ WOrks in a -3 feet new form, egg-shape brick sewer, terminating in a , on- 
d ;""" rectan S" lar potion, having lateral projections extending nearlj to' its centre on alternate sides 
at intervals of three feet along the axis. 

. f " thi> C ° nduit ' ' l "" 1 " < U lr, ' m the building unite with the sewage, the lateral projections of the 
carrier givea whirling motton to the sewage, which causes a complete mixture of chemi, als with it The 

J" 1 """ n ° W ' eads , the SC r ge '" ""' Pre< ipitati ° n t3nks - The tanks are ' onstructed in duplicate, one set 
"7 ' ' ym *= ,dk Whlle the othe ' is in — A brick wall, ten feet in front of the inlet, 

to the tanks checks the velocity ol entrance flo« I board floatin, . i„ ve n des inter 

ce Pts he lighter floating 1 insures their satur . ; it, at a depth from th 

MV '" tl ;; r ' V eet ;, "^ cross-walls in each tank divide it into three compartments; over these the flow 
)ass es with a depth of about .two feet, the heavier matters settling and being intercepted; with a con- 
tinuous flow ot low velocity ,n the tanks the surface water is being constantl) skimmed off into the car- 
™. -*' oimd ' Dra "isfloal tswivel-arm : compartment which connects 

r ,tl, I a l ™ sen bottomof ^ e tanks > and ^harg, , .. ., he ground ata low 

level. rhese arms draw water only from the surface, but the drains falling with the « ,J e anv 

arm to emptj the compartment in which i, is located, to within n inches of the bottom into the 

low service carrier leading to the surface of the grout 

The effluent from the precipitation tanks, after entering the earners, is distributed over the sur- 
fac. tt ttion ground and descendsto the under-drains, which are from three to five feet deep. 

and twenty feet apart over the entire 14.7 a. res in the tanks 

The sewage effluent is applied to the land on the principl . f intermittent downward nitration 
the flow being applied su. , ess.velj to different areas. i>ar, of « land is laid off i„ beds four feel wide. 



EAST ORANGE AND ITS POINTS OE INTEREST. 



45 



separated b 
of the land 

water flows. 



■ shallow furrows in which the water flows, soaking laterally into the beds. The remainder 
is divided into flat beds, ioo feet long by 50 to 100 in width, over the whole of which the 
This latter method is preferable where the coarser matters are removed from the sei 

before it pass 
to the land. 

Italian rye- 
grass has given the 
best results on the 
land, and is now 
grown almost ex- 
< lusively. Farmers 
from the neighbor- 
hood cut the 
and remove it as 
necessary, but up to 




the present time 
the town authori- 
ties have not been 
able to secure a sat- 
isfactory return from 
its sale. Return- 
ing to precipitated 
matter or sludge in 
the tanks. After 
the supernatant 
water is drawn off 
through the swivel- 
arm, a valve-gate is 
opened and the 
sludge drawn into 

the deeper sludge-well within the building. By forming a vacuum in a cast iron receiver, which is con- 
nected by an iron pipe with the sludge-well, the sludge is drawn up in the receiver, milk of lime being 
drawn in at the same time by a small pipe from a mixing tank in the chemical room. This lime pre- 
pares the sludge for pressing, cutting it so that the water separates more readily from the sol 

A pressure of 100 pounds per square inch is secured in one of the other receivers, and 
connected with the receiver containing the sludge by an air transfer main and the proper valves opened, 
the sludge is forced into a Johnson filter-press and pressed into moist, hard portable cakes. 



HARRIS! IN Si reet. 



46 



EAST ORANGE AND ITS POINTS OF INTEREST. 



Mention has been made of the unusually large percentage of the sewers through the township 
which are under water pressure. The intricate topography of the town made several heavy cuts — in some 
i ases over thirty feet, necessary. In all these deep cuttings the water level is now far above the sewers; a head 
pressure of over twenty feet 0( curring in several places. In addition all the mains located in the valley 




Railroad Place from Harrison Street. 



lines were constructed in a quicksand or running sand formation. Under these circumstances, despite 
the greatest care and much expense, a considerable volume of ground water finds its way into the 
sewer pipes. When it is remembered that there are over 2,600 joints per mile, some of them o\er six 
feet in circumference, the practical impossibility of making actually impervious sewers under the con- 
ditions named with vitrified pipe and cement becomes apparent. But this flow from the twenty-five miles 
of pipe sewers was limited to a very small volume, probably about 2.5 gallons per second. 

It was necessary, however, to build the outfall sewer with -a size beyond the maximum vitrified pipe, 
and a brick sewer was therefore constructed for 2,000 feet through a difficult formation, a timber cradle 
being used under the sewer. 

In another section of the town a tunnel, at a depth varying from twenty-five to thirty-five feet, 
was driven for about 2,500 feet to avoid the interference with surface travel incident to so tedious a work 
in open cut. The great difficulty experienced in controlling the large volume of water encountered at 
this depth practically prevented the construction of an impervious sewer in this place, where the tunnel 
was lined with brick. 

From these two pieces of brick sewer, less than a mile in length, about five gallons per second en- 
ters the sewers — twice the quantity, it will be noted, entering the remaining twenty-five miles of pipe 
sewers. 

This aggregate flow of 7.5 gallons per second (650,000 gallons per day,) mingles with the house 
sewage (almost an equal amount), becomes sewage, and must undergo the purification processes. 



EAST ORANGE AND ITS POINTS OF INTEREST. 



47 



Water for dissolving the chemicals enters by a pipe from the town water mains. Air from a com- 
pressor is blown in at the bottom of the tank and the active agitation rapidly dissolves the chemicals. 
The outflow of chemicals to the sewage is regulated by a gate-valve. At present about 2.5 grains of iime 
and 1.0 grains of sulphate of alunmia, are added per gallon of sewage treated. 1'he sewage is highly di- 
luted with a large flow of ground water taken into the twenty-six miles of sewers in the town — more than 
twelve miles of which are constructed in a saturated sub-soil. 




Railroad Place (Brick Church). 

The filter-press consists of thirty-six cast-iron cells, supported on a simple frame, with a central 
feed passage into which the sludge is forced from the receivers. The cells are separated by canvas bags 
and in the intercellular spaces the sludge remains, while the water is strained out through the canvas mto 
a trough on the rear of the press and returns to the tanks. On the end of the press is a capstan sere* 
connected with a throat-block which presses the thirty-six cells of the press into close contact. It ,s the 
air pressure which separates the water from the sludge. 

There is nothing offensive about these cakes when pressed dry ; and, it protected from wate, 
after being taken from the press, may be kept in bulk for weeks without nuisance. But, m the presence 
of heat and moisture, they become more or less objectionable. 

As the sewage enters the tanks, matters in suspension by their own gravity tend to deposit ; this 
tendency is fostered by the arrangement noted of the cross-walls and floating interceptors. The coagu- 
lated film formed by the chemicals entangles finer suspended particles and enticing other matters from 

solution, settles, oris precipitated in the tanks. 

The effluent water from the tanks is spread out over the surface of the ground in thin stream. 
Coming in contact with vegetation, some of the water is absorbed through the large bulbed roots of its 
gras-s and more or less oration of the water, resulting in the combustion of nitrogenous matter, oc 
curs in its flow through the carriers and over the land. 

The soil acts on the effluent water first as a mechanical filter, straining out finer matters in sus- 
pension- it next performs the work of dividing up the water mto minute particles, and presenting an 
increased surface' to the oxygen contained in the pores of the so,., oxidation or combustion of organic 

^Tn^se^maintaining the works is about fifty cents per head of contributing population per 
annum ; this Lount may be somewhat reduced when a larger part of the populate of the township , 
connected with the sewers. 






EAST ORANGE AND ITS POINTS OI INTEREST. 

ATHLETIC SPORTS. 



I isf ( (range stands in the from rank in F.ssex County in the matter of athletic sports. Not onh 

omi ol the best wheelmen in the State of New Jersey to be found in its limits, but there are also 

of the best amateur base ball, tennis, and foot ball players in the country to be found within its 

ii,n,ls - Bul the chief I ,ri,1 <-' of East Orange, is in the Orange Athletic Club, whose house and grounds 




1 ■ 










X III 




----- . — ^.._. 



The A i hi i ■ i n Ci ub-House. 

are within the precincts of the township. This organization, though only a little more than three years 
old, has met with wonderful success, and is one of the strongest and most prosperous athletic associations 
in the country. The idea of forming an athletic club was conceived by a number of well-known young 
mi i of the Oranges, who were accustomed to spend their evenings at a local bowling resort. The idea 
became popular at once, and the project quickly grew to proportions beyond any thing which its origin- 
ators had conceived. It was decided to interest the pubiic-spirited residents of the Oranges in a scheme 
to form an organization which would rival any in the country, and be a monument to the enterprising 
spirit of the community which the club was to represent. On April 4, r88 S , about two hundred 'of the 
best known citizens of the Oranges, assembled in Music Hall to consider the feasibility of forming an 
athletic 1 lub Plans were presented for a building 99x130 feet, which would contain billiard, reception, 
dining and reading rooms, gymnasium, bowling alleys and tennis court. The estimated cost was from 
820,000 to $25,000. It was proposed to raise this sum by subscription, ea< h subs< riber to receive stock 
lor his subsi ription. A committee was appointed to canvass the matter among those interested in athletic 
-ports in the Oranges. This committee met with remarkable success, and in July of the same year 



EAST ORANGE AND ITS POINTS OE INTEREST. 



4V 



another meeting was held. An otter was then received of a site on Halstead street, 160x270 feet, for 
$9,000. This was favorably received, but as no subscriptions had been received the purchase was de- 
ferred, a committee was appointed to procure subscriptions, and instructed to purchase a lot as soon as 
$15,000 was subscribed. In the following February another meeting was held, and the Orange Athletic 
Club was orgaiized with the following officers : President, Robert W. Hawkesworth; Vice President, 
J. Montgomery Hare; Secretary, H. B. Thomas; Directors, R. W. Hawkesworth, J. Montgomery Hare, 

Everitt Frazier, Henry A. Pot- 
ter, John Pettit, J. B. Tilford, 
A. P. Bailer, J. G. Morgan, G. 
P. kingsley, A. D. Palmer, 
William A. Brewer, Jr.; T. B. 
Cuis and H. B. Starbuck. 

Soon after the lot on 
Halstead street was purchased 
and the club-house erected 
without the tennis building. 
The cost of this building was a 
little over $13,000. The tennis 
building was erected in the fall 
of 1887, at an additional cost of 
$10,000. The club house was 
opened in January, 1888, with 
a brilliant reception. The so- 
cial standing of the club mem- 
bers was such as to give it a 
status from the outset, and the 
utmost care is taken now to 
preserve the social standing of 
the club. Ladies are admitted 
to active membership, and are 
allowed the use of the club- 
house every day until three 
o'clock in the afternoon The 
ladies make up about one-fifth of the membership of the club. The club now has a membership 
of 600, and applications for membership are received at every meeting. President Hawkes- 
worth has held his office since the organization of the club, and his zeal for its welfare and his efficiency 
as an organizer have done much to promote its success. The other officers of the club are : \\ illiam 
M Franklin, Vice President; Lewis H. Hyde, Secretary; and W. R. Hotchk.ss, Treasurer. 1 he Direc- 
tors are R W Hawkesworth, William M. Franklin, F. Q. Barstow, Henry A. Potter, W. R. hotchk.ss. 
Alfred P. Boiler, E. B. Aymar, John O. Heald, Lewis H. Hyde, Charles Wiley, Charles B. Gregory, 
Edward Boote, Caleb Barker, Percy Griffin, Richard S. Storrs. 

The club-house is situated or the corner of Halstead street and Railroad avenue, and is sur- 
rounded by a spacious and well kept lawn. A wide piazza extends along a portion of the front of the 
main building. The main doors open into a small lobby, on one side of which is the office. 1 he recep- 
tion room leads off the lobby. Lis handsomely furnished, and the walls and ceding are tastefull) 
ornamented. In one corner is an old-fashioned fire-place, in which a log fire blazes in the \\ inter Above 
the fireplace is a high, old-fashioned oak mantel. To the right of the reception room is the bdhard-roorn 
which like the rest of the house, is well kept and handsomely appointed and decorated. Three billiard 
tables'and one pool table are in this room. The furniture is of oak. The reading and mus.c rooms on 
the second floor are also tastefully furnished. The gymnasium is a spacious room, 41x48 feet in dimen- 
sions and 30 feet in height. It is supplied with the most modern apparatus. It communicates by means 
of a private stairway with the dressing and bath rooms. 



■ "... \ ...p! 


K ~ ;.i ■ .J , c ■■ r 




h»Vv .a.. •»:■;•■ j •••- ■ \j 
vC-V';,/;.!.,. .. ( 


-X.- 


1 ■M^MiH ' U / 



Grove Street Grounds. 



EAST ORANGE AND IIS I'Olxrs OF INTEREST. 




The tennis building Is one of the features of the club-house, It is in the rear ol the main build- 
ing indt .mmunicates with it by means ol i ivide entrance. This is the only covered tennis building in 
existen< e. It is 100 feet square and is covered by an arching roof 45 feel high. it contains two full 
sized double tennis courts. The flooring is ol two-inch Georgia pine, and eight large skylights afford 

light during the day. The ten- 
nis building is also used tor 
balls, receptions, 1 oncerts, en- 
tertainments, etc. A temporar) 
stage may be placed in an 
appropriate position and seat- 
ing capacity is afforded with 
800 chairs owned by the club. 
The club-house throughout is 
lighted by gas, experiments 
with electricity having proved 
that gas was better adapted for 
lighting purposes. Everything 
about the house bespeaks cosi- 
ness and elegance, and all to- 
gether the Orange Athletic 
Club has one of the best ap- 
pointed establishments of its 
kind in the country. 

The gymnasium is one 
of the most popular adjuncts 
of the club. It is fitted up 
with the latest and most ap- 
proved apparatus, and is in 
charge of a competent instruc- 
tor. In connection with the 
athletic club there is also a glee 
club, which is one of the finest 



niffi 



iSt. t 



Photo Chs.lo. r.\ 



From an instantaneous photograph taken September, 1890. 




WALN1 1 StREI i , NEAR Si MMER. 



organizations of New Jersey, and 
whose concerts are exceedingly 
popular. The glee club is under 
the direction of Arthur D. Wood- 
ruff, of the Xew York Mendels- 
sohn Society. The foot ball team 
of the Orange Athletic- Club has 
been remarkably Successful in all 
its contests, and the bowling team 
has already taken a high place 
in the amateur bowling league. 
A pair of new alleys have recently 
been laid in the bowling depart- 
ment, at a c osl ol $500. 

f*he 1 (range Vthletic ( 'lub 
is also the owner of large and 
well arranged grounds near the 
Grove streel station. These 
grounds contain running tracks 



EAST ORANGE AND ITS POINTS OF INTEREST. 



5i 



and spaces for foot ball, base ball, tennis and other outdoor games, and have large and well constructed 
grand stands from which all games may be viewed. An instantaneous photograph of a running match 
held in September, 1890, on the grounds of the club, appears on the preceding page. 




Four Oranck Residences. 
(From Photographs taken by Frank P. Jewetl | 



We have become so accustomed to associating the idea of rapid growth with towns and cities of 
the West that many have come to unconsciously believe that "phenomenal" development, as it it is gen- 
erally called, is peculiar to that section of the country,and that the prevailing conditions, and the excep- 
tionally enterprising character of the people there, combine to make results easy of accomplishment, 
which we of the "effete and timid East," as many of the Western papers have it, cannot hop 
parallel. It is true that the West has developed as much in certain lines in half a century as Xew Jer- 
sey has in five-fold that time ; it is true that that section has made gains in wealth and population 

which have excited the wonder and admiration of the civilized world, but the wonderful develo] at ol 

the Oranges during the past few years, as a place of residence, can not be paralleled by that of any « estern 
community for it has been accompanied by a corresponding development of culture and refinement, 
the Oranges now enjoying every advantage which a cultivated community requires. 



































































































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\ x 














































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